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LOT 1324
Extraordinarily Rare Engraved and Gilded Three-Shot Flintlock Revolving Sporting Gun - NSN, 14 gauge, 23 5/8 inch flat top round bbl., blue/gold finish, walnut stock.
Multi-shot flintlock pistols
and long guns were the forerunners of the true
revolvers of the 19th century and are very rare
and highly desirable antique arms. A small number of firearms built using the system on this long
gun in three and four-shot variations were manufactured by
a group of gunmakers operating in the spa
town of Carlsbad in Bohemia in the first half of the 18th century. Naturally, these advanced firearms were reserved for the
nobility, and King Christian IV of Denmark is known to have owned a pair of pistols from Carlsbad using this system. The system used on this gun is similar to the “wender” or “turn-
over” design employed on double barrel pistols and long guns in the flintlock era, but instead of having multiple complete barrels,
the gun has three chambers with their own pans and frizzens. By giving each chamber its own pan and frizzen, no complicated automatic priming
mechanism is required. After pulling on the release trigger at the front of the trigger guard, these chambers are manually rotated to bring them into
alignment with the main barrel, and the hared lock which is back action format. The lock is manually cocked each time. This would significantly improve
the time between shots compared to a single shot firearm and would also be more durable and less complex to manufacture than many of the other rare multi-shot designs of the era.
The frizzens and long, mostly straight frizzen springs are mounted to separate plates running from the side of each chamber ahead of the pan to the front of circular plate at the junction of the chambers and barrel. Since you are not required to load down the barrel, the ramrod is shorter as well. This arrangement also keeps the vents out of line with one another which should reduce the risk of chain fires. The smoothbore barrel has a long sighting flat, a bead front sight, and floral and classical martial engraving at the breech highlighted in gold. The chambers, lock, and other components are also engraved with floral patterns and martial trophy designs and highlighted in gold, and the buttplate features a boar hunting scene. The stock and forend have attractive carved flats and molding.
CONDITION: Very good overall with strong traces of original gilt finish and otherwise primarily a dark mottled brown patina and mild oxidation and pitting throughout. The brass has aged patina, and the trigger guard has a repair. The wood is also very good and has some cracks, repairs at the toe and forend edges, a few small chips, and general scratches and dings. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 1325
G. Banchi “Wolf Killer” Flintlock Blunderbuss with Elliptical Muzzle and Folding Stock -
NSN, 16 gauge, 22 1/8 inch part octagon bbl., blue/silver finish, walnut stock. These blunderbusses with folding stocks were reportedly nicknamed “wolf killers” in Italy. It has a 1 3/8 inch by 2 inch muzzle, brass
and silver floral inlays, engraved tang, “G BANCHI” marked lock, hinged wrist, belt hook on the left, and attractive molding, carving, and silver wire inlays on the stock. Banchi was a
gunmaker/lockmaker in the mid-18th century in Florence, Italy.
CONDITION: Good as reconverted to flintlock configuration with mostly dark brown patina overall, some patches of blue finish, aged patina on the brass and silver, some slivers of inlay absent, some cracks and repairs on the stock, chips by the barrel tang, and moderate overall wear. Mechanically functions but does not hold on full cock. Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
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