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LOT 1246
Beautifully Engraved Erttel, Dresden Wheellock Rifle - Serial no. 23,
28 bore/.54 cal., 33 3/8 inch octagon bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. There
were multiple members of the Erttel family active as gunmakers in Dresden
in the 17th and 18th centuries (see “Der Neue Stockel pages 345 and 346). This
rifle may be the work of Andreas Erttel c. 1679-1725. The seven-groove rifled barrel has floral engraving on the muzzle, a band of floral engraving ahead of the dovetailed brass blade front sight, a dovetailed
notch rear sight, “ERTTEL [gold maker’s mark] A DRESDE” signed on top of the breech section, another band of floral engraving at
the breech, and “No 23” on the tang. The flat lock is signed “ERTTEL/A DRESDE” at the top and features highly detailed engraving
including a battle scene with castles and marking soldiers in the background, martial trophies on the wheel cover and dog spring
bridle, and a seated figure with martial trophies on the dog. The iron trigger guard and double set trigger plat have floral finials, and the stock has a coordinating carved finial ahead of the trigger guard as well as a horn forend cap, ramrod pipes, lock screw plates, cheekpiece edge, thumb rest, patch box end panels, and buttplate; raised relief floral scroll carving ahead of the cheekpiece, nice molding, and a large contrasting hunter’s
star on the cheekpiece. A small golden label/tag on a red ribbon and an old document accompany the rifle. CONDITION: Fine metal with light gray patina, faint pitting, crisp markings and engraving, and general mild overall wear. The refinished stock is very good and has minor edge wear, minor repairs, and a smooth older finish. Lock not tested.
Estimate: 5,500 - 7,500
LOT 1247
Heinrich Genhart Revolving Turret Rifle - Serial no. 1125, 44
cal., 30 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This system was designed by Henry (Heinrich) Genhart of Liege who patented this
design in the 1850s. Only a small number of handguns and long guns of this pattern were manufactured. His English patent from 1856 notes “There is a lever handle
connected to the barrel, for pushing the barrel outward at each discharge, and for again inserting the breech end into another chamber in the revolving cartridge holder, which
is caused to rotate upon its axis, so as to present another charge in a line with the bore in the barrel, after the method practised with ordinary revolvers.”The vertically acting firing pin is also cocked by working the lever. The rifled barrel has a dovetailed blade front sight, dovetailed two-leaf rear sight, and “1125” on the left at the breech. The turret has
the chambers numbered from 1 to 10 on top, Liege proofs on the side, and “1125” on the underside. The furniture is blued steel. The forend tip is dark
horn. The stock has checkering at the breech and wrist.
CONDITION: Fine with 50% original blue on the barrel and trigger guard, removed barrel address with visible file marks, strong original case colors on the turret, dark brown patina on the balance, moderate oxidation on the buttplate, and general mild overall wear. The stock is good with distinct checkering, small chips, and general dents and scratches. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 1248
Unidentified Liege Proofed
Prototype Transitional Revolving Rifle - NSN, 69 cal., 24 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock.
This rifle is built similar to the English transitional percussion revolvers of the 1840s and 1850s. The casehardened cylinder has small holes at
the back of the chambers as is common on percussion revolvers but was not fitted with nipples. It was previously theorized that it uses a proprietary teatfire
cartridge, but it may be an incomplete prototype meant to have percussion nipples in its final form. The only marking is a small “E” in a partial oval, likely traces of a Liege “E/LG” proof. The four-
same type found on Swiss Feldstutzer rifles. There is a small lever on the right that adjusts the position of the hammer.
groove rifled barrel has a black mounted blade front sight and an adjustable rear sight of the
It is mounted with a nicely figured walnut stock with a casehardened buttplate.
CONDITION: Fine with 50% plus of the original blue and casehardened finish, some areas of dark patina, and isolated spots of minor pitting. The stock is also fine and has some mild dings and scratches. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 1,700 - 2,250
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