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LOT 287
Highly Ornate Pearl and Staghorn Inlaid and Engraved Silesian “Tschinke” Wheellock Sporting Rifle - NSN, 32 cal., 34 1/4 inch octagon bbl., bright finish, hardwood stock. This stunning small caliber rifle is one of a group of wheellock rifles with the mechanism mounted on the outside of the
locks from in and around Teschen, Silesia, in present day Poland c. 1650. They are believed to have been made for hunting birds and other small game and are generally incredibly ornate. As such, they have been purchased for and displayed in a number of prestigious art museums and high end private collections. The slender, swamped barrel has six- groove rifling, blade and notch sights, and a long tang that bends down through the wrist. The distinctive lock has floral engraving on the fittings. The rifle has a single trigger. The finger groove trigger guard is iron. The stock has extensive staghorn, bone, and pearl inlays engraved with a variety of animal, mythological, and floral patterns. CONDITION: Very good overall with mostly silver-gray patina on the iron, mild pitting, distinct engraving on the lock and stock, some small replacement inlays, chips of inlay missing at the forend tip and heel, split in the forend, and general mild overall wear. Lock not tested. This is a stunning example of 17th century firearms art. Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr. Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500
LOT 288
1678 Dated Baltic Snap Lock Sporting Rifle Formerly in the Henk L. Visser Collection - NSN, 42 cal., 38 3/8 inch octagon bbl., bright finish, hardwood stock. The swamped octagon barrel has eight-groove rifling, blade and notch sights, and a short bent tang. The distinctive lock has a pivoting pan cover, “M-R-K-” signed at the center, floral engraving, external full-cock sear, and “1678” ahead of a lion mask at the tail. The furniture is mainly sheet iron aside from the heavier sweeping trigger guard. The side plate is in the shape of a lion. The cheek has “MRK” in
raised relief carving, and an “TN/254” inventory marking is on the left side of the butt. CONDITION: Very good with mottled gray patina and mild pitting, distinct markings and engraving, and mild overall wear. The stock is also very good and has some cracks and repairs mainly in the right side of the butt and general minor scratches and dings. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The Henk L. Visser Collection; The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr. Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500