Page 248 - 4093-BOOK2

LOT 1255
Spectacular Engraved, Gold Inlaid,
and Relief Carved Flintlock Swivel
Breech/”Wender” Combination
Gun by Schirmer of Bamberg - NSN,
24 gauge, 30 1/4 inch part octagon
and octagon bbl., blue/gold/bright finish, walnut stock. This beautiful 18th century
combination gun features a 24 bore smoothbore barrel and a 28 bore rifled barrel.
The smoothbore barrel has a fixed silver blade front sight with flush inlaid “spider” base and is octagonal to
round with chiseled and turned girdles at the transition point. The tapered octagonal rifled barrel features a dovetailed bead/blade front sight and
dovetailed notch rear sight with engraved finial with gilt backgrounds. Each barrel is blued and features sunken gold filled trefoil designs and Spanish style
“crown/SCHIR/MER/A/BAM/BERG” and running stag maker’s marks. The rounded back action lock is inscribed “SCHIRMER A BAMBERG” at the rear of the cock
and is relief engraved with rococo style scrollwork and a scene of two deer with gilt backgrounds. Coordinating rococo scrollwork and game scenes with gilt
backgrounds are featured throughout the steel mounts. The priming pans are guttered, and the frizzens are designed to enclose the edges of the pans to
provide a tight seal. Pulling the front of the trigger guard towards the rear releases the barrels for rotation. The gun is equipped with adjustable double set
triggers. The stock and forend panels feature a combination of incised and relief carved rococo scrollwork with floral accents, and the cheekpiece features
an elaborate star inlay in contrasting light and dark horn. “4” is carved into a pierced window in the toe plate. A shared baleen ramrod with horn tip rides to
one side of the barrels. Heer in “Der Neue Stockel” lists Wolfgang Schirmer (1704-1772) and his son Christoph Balthasar Schirmer (c. 1745-1780) as active in
Bamberg. This piece was likely made by the father around the time of his son’s birth. The gun is accompanied by Norman R. Blank’s 12.10.76 Southeby Park
Bernet & Co. invoice for the gun.
246