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LOT 1244
1677 Dated Johannes Heller Wheellock Mueller-Buechse Rifle -
NSN, 62 cal., 33 5/8 inch octagon bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. The
swamped octagonal barrel has dovetailed blade and notch sights, a
sighting groove at the breech, “*1*6*[sunken “HH” and arm with sword
maker’s mark]*7*7*” on top ahead of the rear sight, “Johannes Heller”
on the upper left flat towards the breech, and bands at the breech. Per
p. 515 of “Der Neue Stockel,” Johannes Heller was working c. 1660-1685,
possibly at Schloss Ettersburg given the number of his guns in the
collection there. The flat lock has the same markings ss the top of the
barrel, a brass wheel cover with floral engraving, and additional brass
acorn and mask details as well as an engraved mask design on the
jaws. The rifle is equipped with adjustable double set triggers, and the
mounts are iron. The stock has fine molding and fluting, scroll carved
accents, ornate inlaid wire and pin work concentrated on the left stock
flat around the floral shaped side nail plates, and carved scallop designs
at the edge of the butt and on the carved wooden patchbox lid. The
wooden ramrod has an iron tip that coordinates with the forend cap
and ramrod ferrules. The rifle is accompanied by an Academic Arms
Center of America certificate of authenticity filled out for Norman Blank
and an “Grossherzogliches Hausinventar” record for the rifle.
CONDITION: Good with gray patina, minor oxidation and pitting, aged
patina on the brass, and generally mild overall wear, including some
scratches, faint cracks, and small worm holes in the stock. The lock has
not been tested. The set triggers function fine.
Provenance: Jagdschloss Kranichstein; Hans Schedelmann; W. Keith
Neal; The Norman R. Blank Collection.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,000
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