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LOT 275
Rare and Excellent Engraved and Gold and Silver Inlaid Girardoni System Pneumatic Repeating Air Carbine by J. Cantriner of Vienna - , 11 mm , 14 7/8 inch octagon bbl., blue/gold/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Johann Baptist Contriner was born in Tyrol, perhaps in Essling, and became a master gunmaker (Buechsenmachermeister) in Vienna on August 7, 1825. His name appears in the
city records until 1837. He is known to have manufactured advanced arms such as Girardoni (sometimes spelled “Girandoni”) system repeating air pistols and pairs of pill-lock pistols with built-in primer magazines linked to the hammers. His sons Joseph and Carl were also gunmakers in Vienna. This carbine was built based on Bartholomeo Girardoni’s famous system first developed around 1779 and used by the Austrian military in the late 18th century and early 19th century. The blued octagonal barrel features twelve-groove rifling, a dovetailed blade front sight, two-leaf rear sight with gilt finial, engraved and gold and silver inlaid floral patterns, “CANTRINER” signed in gold on the upper flat, and “JC” signed in gold on top at the breech. The sliding block is engraved with floral patterns with gold centers. The magazine tube is also engraved with a floral motif. The gilt brass top plate features a sunburst pattern, floral borders, and an elaborate martial trophy in an shield shaped panel.
The lock is signed “in Wien.” in gold and has a sunken gold lined “JC” maker’s mark below the hammer in a engraved martial trophy. The mounts are gilt brass with mainly floral patterns along with a martial trophy on the trigger guard bow and floral engraved silver inlays flanking the panel of checkering on the stock. The reservoir is wrapped in leather and has an old label reading in German noting
that this “windkarabiner” was produced in Vienna by J. Contriner (1798-1837). Also accompanied by a certificate of weapon authenticity filed out for Norman Blank by F. Theodore Dexter.
CONDITION: Very Fine with 75% plus original blue finish on the barrel, much of
the bright original gold, dark aged patina on the silver, dark gray patina on the lock, crisp engraving and markings, small chips and scratches in the stock, crisp checkering, absent front barrel pin, and generally mild overall wear. Mechanism not tested, but properly cocks. Ramrod absent.
Provenance: The Norman R. Blank Collection.
Estimate: 10,000 - 18,000
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