A FINE 25-BORE FLINTLOCK SPORTING RIFLE

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A FINE 25-BORE FLINTLOCK SPORTING RIFLE

BY WENCL POLZ, CARLSBAD, CIRCA 1760

With swamped octagonal sighted barrel cut with seven grooves and signed on the top of the breech behind the single-leaf back-sight, brass fore-sight with traces of gilding, engraved tang, rounded lock engraved with a sportsman and his dog in a landscape and on the tail with a stag beset by hounds, the cock chiselled with scrollwork in low relief on a punched ground, moulded figured walnut full stock lightly carved with scrollwork, the butt with cheek-piece inlaid with a star in white and green stained horn and fitted with sliding patch-box cover with chased gilt-brass mounts, full gilt-brass mounts cast and chased with scrolls and strapwork in relief on a punched ground, the tang of the butt-plate with a figure of Diana, the side-plate with Diana in her chariot, a hound, and two cherubs, and the trigger-guard with Minerva, set trigger, octagonal gilt-brass ramrod-pipes, iron sling loops, horn fore-end cap, and original horn-tipped ramrod
28¼in. (71.8cm.) barrel

Lot Essay

The lock of this rifle is unusual in that it cannot be let down from half or full-cock except by pushing forward the setting lever of the hair-trigger
Wenzel Poltz is recorded circa 1750-88. He became a master gunmaker in 1750

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