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LOT 1278
Very Fine Eastern European Tschinke Small Caliber Wheellock Birding Rifle with Elaborately Inlaid
Stock and Powder Flasks - NSN, 36 cal., 37 1/8 inch octagon bbl., bright/nitre blue finish, hardwood stock.
This 17th century wheellock sporting rifle is of the distinctive “Tschinke” style associated with the
town of Teschen in Upper Silesia. It features a six-groove rifled swamped barrel of approximately
100 bore (.36 caliber) with a brass blade front sight and dovetailed iron notch rear sight, along
with panels of brass inlays with floral and entwining line engraving, along with “WS” maker’s mark
inscribed at the breech. The distinctively shaped lock with external mechanism with brass fences
is engraved throughout with floral scrollwork. The brass plates on the dog also feature bird motifs.
The full-length fruitwood stock features a narrow sliding patchbox cover and is profusely decorated
with applied engraved brass panels, inlaid with mother-of-pearl and horn in a variety of geometric
shapes, some of which are engraved. The iron trigger guard is shaped to the fingers. The rifle is
accompanied by a distinctive powder flask with similar inlays and attached leather pouch for balls
that came from the collection at Schloss Dyck along with a second inlaid “donut” powder flask.
CONDITION: Fine with attractively aged patina and distinct engraving on the brass, silver-gray
patina on the barrel, strong original nitre blue on the smaller components, absent pan button, and
general mild overall wear. The stock is also fine and has mild overall wear, some minor cracks, sliver
absent at the forend tip on the left, small pieces of inlays chipped or absent, and mild overall wear.
Lock not mechanically tested. The flasks are fine with moderate age and storage related wear.
Provenance: The Norman R. Blank Collection.
Estimate: 9,000 - 15,000