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Church which is one of the city’s key landmarks. This is referenced in the inscriptions. It was also an important market town along the Neckar River. The muzzle is marked “SEHR HOCH KOMBT ZWAR DAS MEISTER STVCK/ALLEIN ES BRINGT AVCH WITER GLVCK” (loosely translates to:
the masterpiece goes very high and also brings luck). The barrel tang reads “ICH HOFFE
MIT FREVDE/WASSER ZV SCAPFEN/AVS DEM-HE ILBR/ONN” (loosely translates to: I hope to drink water from the healing well in Heilbronn). The swamped barrel also has seven- groove rifling, a dovetailed blade front sight, a golden notch rear sight with folding leaf and engraved finial, “GEORG DANIEL KLETT A HEILBRONN 1717” signed on top with gold fill and a reichsadler stamp, an engraved angel grabbing onto the “G” at the beginning of the maker’s mark, and a detailed scene on the breech that includes men with Holy Roman Empire flags, putti, and figures drinking from a well. The ornate lock has “G.D./ Klett” on the plate covering the feather spring and is engraved with scroll patterns inhabited by angles or putti and highlighted with gold backgrounds. The side plate depicts the city of Heilbronn (marked Heil Bron) and the Neckar River (labeled Necker). The sky is gilded providing contrast to the scene. The scene is likely based on the similar skyline engraving from 1643 by Matthäus Merian. The iron wrist escutcheon is a floral and angel design, and the iron furniture has scroll engraving along with a mask on the heel, “LAS MICH IN MEINER/RVSONST STIG ICH/ZV” (appears to loosely translate to: let me in otherwise I’m going to let myself in) over a man armed with a spear/pike on the buttrap door. The stock has extensive molding and raised relief foliate carving. CONDITION: Very good with light patination on the otherwise silver-gray metal, strong gold backgrounds, crisp markings and engraving, and generally minor age and storage related wear. The stock is also very good and has crisp carving, numerous minor scratches and dings, some small chips and flakes, minor cracks, and fairly minor overall wear for its age. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 9,500 - 16,000
LOT 3250
1717 Dated, Raised Relief Carved, Heilbronn Themed Engraved, and Gold Highlighted Georg Daniel Klett Flintlock Jaeger
Rifle - NSN, 54 cal., 34 3/8 inch octagon bbl., bright/gold finish, walnut stock. The overall theme of the incredible early 18th century German rifle relates to
the free imperial city of Heilbronn in present day northern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The city’s name means holy spring, a reference to a stream under the high altar of St. Kilian’s
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