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LOT 3266
18th Century Engraved, Gold Plated and Relief Carved German “Flintlock” Stock
Reservoir Air Rifle by Bosler of Darmstadt -
NSN, 12 mm , 37 1/2 inch octagon bbl., bright/gold finish, walnut stock. Though this example offered looks like a flintlock, it is actually a muzzleloading air rifle with a concealed stock reservoir that
has a trapdoor on the buttplate for filling access, and the faux “flint” is
a piece of wood. Air guns of this style were used primarily for hunting. “Wind guns” had several advantages over conventional firearms including
that they were quieter, smokeless, quicker to reload, and relatively unaffected by rain. They
also required less cleaning since they did not require corrosive black powder like the flintlocks that this example is modeled after.
“Bosler a/Darmstadt” signed on the lock with a goose neck cock. This could have been made by one of three air gun makers including Johann Peter Bosler (1689-1742) although more likely by one of his sons, Friedrich Jakob Bosler (1717-1793) or Johann Philip Bosler (1731-1793), all
of Darmstadt. Octagon barrel with 8-groove rifling, blade front sight and notch rear sight. Features floral scroll, border and scenes engraved on the barrel, lock, hammer and brass fittings, gold plating on breech and brass fittings, and floral relief carvings in the stock.
CONDITION: Fine, with bright polished iron surfaces with some scattered light freckling/pitting, 75% applied gold finish on the breech (above some light pitting) and fittings, with sharp engraving overall. The stock is also fine with scattered light scratches, some cracks and chips, defined recut
relief carvings. Mechanically fine. Absent ramrod.
Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
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