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LOT 3290
Incised Carved Germanic Over/Under Combination Gun - NSN, 33 gauge, 31 1/2 inch octagon and 31 1/2 inch
part octagon bbl., bright finish, hardwood stock. This c. mid-18th century Germanic flintlock combination gun features an
approximately .50 caliber rifled upper octagonal barrel with blade and notch sights and “JF” marking and an approximately .52 caliber
smoothbore lower octagonal to round barrel, unmarked locks, brass mounts, wooden grip extension and patchbox lid, and incised scroll carving.
CONDITION: Good with gray and brown patina, file marks, work on the upper vent, some chips and cracks in the wood, scattered worm holes, and mild wear. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
LOT 3289
Fine Engraved and Relief Carved Flintlock Over/Under Sporting Gun by Johann Durst
- NSN, 20 gauge, 30 3/4 inch octagon bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. Johann Durst worked in
Wisentheid in Bayern and Gross-Meseritch in Moravia in the latter half of the 18th century and later in Vienna,
Austria, beginning around 1785 per “Der Neue Stockel.” The octagonal barrels are smoothbore and feature engraving at the
breech, and the upper barrel features a “spider” front sight, “I•DURST•IN GROS MESERIZSCH” and a gold lined “ID” maker’s mark.
The right lock is signed “IOHANN” on the lower edge at the front, and the left lock is signed “I-DURST”. The mounts are brass. The stock features fine molding and raised relief scroll carving.
CONDITION: Fine with dark gray patina on the barrels, more silver-gray patina on the locks, minor oxidation, attractively aged patina on the brass mounts, distinct carving and engraving, and fairly minor age
and storage related wear. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
LOT 3288
Finely Engraved and Relief Carved Flintlock Jaeger Rifle with Unusual Internal Frizzen
Spring - NSN, 54 cal., 27 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue/gold/casehardened finish, walnut stock. The
swamped octagonal rifled barrel has the gold lined maker’s mark of Hans Stifter at the breech (see
“Der Neue Stockel” 1042, 1044, and 1045). He was a gunmaker for the court of the Elector of Saxony
in the 1660s, and his shop was taken over by his son Johann Christoph Stifter in 1677, and the latter
moved to Dresden c. 1700. In an included letter, Warren T. Lewis theorized that the rifle was built
by the younger Stifter in the early 18th century using a barrel from his father. The barrel
features a fixed blade front sight and an unusually tall dovetailed notch rear sight. The
rounded lock is finely engraved with horsemen, martial trophies, and foliate scrollwork and features a rounded priming pan
and an unusual internally mounted frizzen spring leaving more of the exterior uninterrupted for the engraving. The rifle is equipped with
an adjustable single set trigger. The brass mounts feature Baroque scroll and shell patterns, hunters, and masks. The patch box lid features
a boar hunting scene. The full-length walnut stock displays relief scroll and shell carving. Elements of the carving are similar to those used on
Kentucky rifles in the 18th century.
CONDITION: Fine as restored by Brian LaMaster with fading finish mixed with dark patina on the barrel, dark brown patina on the lock, aged patina on the brass,
mild pitting, distinct designs, replacement rear sight and barrel tang screw, and mild overall wear. The partially restored stock is good and has some repairs, distinct carving, mild
scratches and dings, and some chips and cracks. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Brad Cobb Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 3287
Ornate Gold Inlaid, Engraved, and
Carved Bavarian Flintlock Jaeger
Rifle by Pierre of Otting - NSN, 58
cal., 31 3/4 inch octagon bbl., blue/gold
finish, walnut stock. This rifle from Pierre of Otting, Bavaria, in the c. 1750 features a swamped octagonal
barrel with eight-groove rifling, a dovetailed brass blade front sight, replacement notch rear sight, fire
blued finish, “PIERRE A OTTING” in gold inlay with gold inlaid border and sunken gold lined rampant unicorn maker’s
mark, and brass inlays at the breech end featuring two bound captive flanking a soldier with a raised golden sword. The flat beveled lock is also fire
blue with “PIERRE/A-OTTING” in gold inlay below the faceted priming pan and gold inlaid borders. The rifle features adjustable double set triggers.
The mounts are gilt brass with engraved and chiseled designs incorporating figures, masks, and scrollwork. The stock features a dark horn forend cap,
molding, raised relief foliate carving, a cheekpiece, on the left, and a deep patchbox with sliding wood lid on the right.
CONDITION: Fine with 80% plus period fire blue finish, bright gold inlays, strong gilt finish on the mounts, and generally mild overall wear. The stock is also
fine and has some cracks and repairs, a few small chips, and distinct carving. The lock hangs up at half-cock when released by the set triggers, but functions fine
dismounted. Overall, a very attractive German jaeger rifle.
Provenance: Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000