Details
AN UNUSUAL 25-BORE GERMAN (SAXON) WHEEL-LOCK SPORTING GUN
BY WENZEL KUTSCHERA, BAUTZEN, DATED 1672
With swamped octagonal sighted barrel with panels of punched decoration at the muzzle and breech, the latter dated within the sighting groove behind the back-sight and stamped twice with the brass-lined maker's mark (Neue Støckel 7725) and another mark, 'IW', brass fore-sight, grooved tang stamped '96', flat lock with some original blue on the inside, engraved on the outside with an eagle and with flush-fitting pan-cover release button, domed wheel-cover engraved with two entwined crowned serpents and cut for the lever of the spring catch releasing the wheel-spindle, the cock pierced and engraved with a figure, half man and half stag holding a hunting horn and a spear, with a hound below, figured full stock with fluted fore-end inlaid with engraved dark horn panels (some replaced) and rosettes enriched with pellets of darker wood, patch-box cover en suite, the cheek-piece with a large plaque engraved with a running stag, indented iron trigger-guard, horn butt-plate and button, pierced horn ramrod-pipe, horn fore-end cap, and original horn-tipped ramrod (fore-end wormed and repaired, wood replaced by the barrel tang)
29 5/8in. (75.2cm.) barrel
