Page 274 - 4090-BOOK2

272
LOT 1361
Fine Engraved and Relief Carved Late 18th/Early 19th Century Stock Reservoir Muzzleloading Air Gun by Ludwig Zeer of Vienna - NSN, 11.5 mm , 32 1/8 inch part octagon bbl., blue/bright/ silver finish, walnut stock. This Austrian air gun dates to around the early 1800s. It is silver inlaid with the maker name “Ludwig.Zeer.a.Wienn” on the top barrel flat at the breech and signed “Ludwig.Zeer” on the lockplate. No information related to this maker has been found at the current time. “Wind guns” had several advantages over conventional firearms including that they were quieter, smokeless, quicker to reload, and relatively unaffected by rain. They also required less
cleaning since they did not require corrosive black powder. This example is chambered in approximately .46 caliber/11.5 mm and features a part octagon/round barrel with a smooth bore that loads from the muzzle end, a German silver bead front sight, high quality floral border engraving on the brass components and iron lock with motifs engraved on top of the receiver and bottom of the trigger guard, a walnut
stock with floral relief carving on the bottom, and a leather wrapped metal stock reservoir. Circular brass collection tag marked “R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/
COLLECTION/2287” hanging from the trigger guard.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 75% faded original blue finish on the barrel with some scattered minor surface freckling and light handling marks, and most of the silver inlay. The brass exhibits an attractive golden aged patina with sharp engraving overall. The revarnished wood is very good, with an absent chipped section ahead of the lock, a few light handling marks, and defined carving. The leather is good with age related flaking and cracking. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection. Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000
LOT 1362
18th Century Relief Carved and Silver Inlaid Stock Reservoir Air Gun by Schirmann of Germany - NSN, 44 , 31 1/4 inch octagon bbl., brown/silver finish, walnut stock. “SCHIRMANN:” and “A:PASEWALCK:” silver inlaid on the top barrel flat ahead of and behind the rear sight. “SCHIRMAN” marked on the lock plate. No information was found related to this maker at the current time, but the marking indicates they were active out of Pasewalk in what is modern day Germany. This high quality 18th century air gun shares strong resemblance to a muzzleloading flintlock long arm of the time, although the “cock” instead only functions as a cocking lever, and it uses a detachable walnut wrapped buttstock air reservoir. Air guns of this style were used primarily for hunting. “Wind guns” had several advantages over conventional firearms including that they were quieter, smokeless, quicker to reload, and relatively unaffected by rain. They also required less cleaning since they did not require corrosive black powder like the flintlocks that this example shares resemblance to. Features a smoothbore octagon barrel that measures approximately .44 caliber/11 mm, brass blade front sight, brass fixed notch rear sight, flat beveled iron lock, and high quality border relief carvings along the edges and bottom of the stock, around the wrist and on floral patterns on both sides of the buttstock. Initials “VR” carved into the right of the buttstock. An air gun of this style would have been an advanced hunting weapon of the time, fit for an individual of high status. CONDITION: Very good, with brown and gray patina overall, most of the silver inlay on the barrel with age related tarnishing, and defined lock markings. The wood is also very good with scattered cracks, scratches, chips and repairs visible, carved initials as mentioned above, with defined recut relief carvings and overall fine figure. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 1363
Panel Scene Engraved and Silver Inlaid 19th Century Stock Reservoir Tip-Up Barrel Sporting Air Gun by “STIRB’A” of Vienna, Austria - NSN, 50 , 32 1/2 inch octagon bbl., bright/silver finish, walnut stock. “-STIRB’A-” surrounded by an oval silver inlaid on top of the barrel flat at the breech, “in Wien” marked on the lock. No information found at the current time related to this maker. “Wind guns” had several advantages over conventional firearms including that they were quieter, smokeless, quicker to reload, and relatively unaffected by rain. They also required less cleaning since they did not require corrosive black powder. This attractive tip-up barrel example is chambered in approximately .50 caliber/12.7 mm and features an octagon barrel with a smooth bore, German silver bead front sight, hardwood stock, a metal stock air reservoir, and high quality engraving including a scene of a dog on the left sideplate, floral and border pattern engraving on most of the components besides the barrel and buttstock reservoir, and hammer with a dragon head. The breech loading tip-up barrel has a release on bottom ahead of the trigger guard. Circular brass collection tag marked “R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/COLLECTION/2918” hanging from the trigger guard. CONDITION: Very good, showing bright iron surfaces with some scattered patches of minor surface pitting, half of the silver inlay, attractive golden aged patina on the brass, and sharp engraving overall. The wood is good as sanded and refinished, with a reattached section visible above the lock, faint checkering and relief carvings, and some scattered light scratches. One absent retaining pin in the forend. The buttstock reservoir has been cleaned to a bright. The hammer is seized, mechanically needs work. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection. Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000