A .55 GERMAN (BRUNSWICK) WHEEL-LOCK BELT PISTOL
A .55 GERMAN (BRUNSWICK) WHEEL-LOCK BELT PISTOL

CIRCA 1570

Details
A .55 GERMAN (BRUNSWICK) WHEEL-LOCK BELT PISTOL
Circa 1570
With deeply etched two-stage barrel chiselled in the form of a monster's head at the muzzle, plain lock formerly with etched and gilt decoration (now removed), with integral wheel-cover, sliding pan-cover with plain release-button, and internal cock-spring, walnut full stock (butt broken and chipped) profusely decorated with panels of horn carved in relief with scenes of the chase, warriors, masks, foliage and grotesque beasts, compressed pommel en suite, iron mounts including pierced belt hook, and later ramrod and carved horn fore-end cap, most of the decoration of later date
25¼in.
Provenance
J.M. Heberle (H. Lempertz' Söhne), Cologne, 26-28 October 1887, lot 678 (illustrated, and at the time a pair)

Dr. Dagobert D. Runes (Part I), Sotheby & Co., London, 11 June 1964, lot 48
Literature
F.H. Cripps-Day, A Record of Armour Sales 1881-1924, p. 10

Sotheby & Co., Ivory Hammer 2, 1963-4, p. 211 (illustrated)
Sale room notice
Please note the relief carved inlays appear to be original. The later decoration is probably restricted to the etching on the flat surfaces of the barrel. The rust has now been removed from the wheel-cover

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