AN UNUSUAL 16-BORE SAXON WHEEL-LOCK SPORTING RIFLE

BY HANS CASPER ESCHER, LEIPZIG, CIRCA 1665

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AN UNUSUAL 16-BORE SAXON WHEEL-LOCK SPORTING RIFLE
BY HANS CASPER ESCHER, LEIPZIG, CIRCA 1665
WITH SWAMPED OCTAGONAL SIGHTED BARREL STAMPED AT THE BREECH WITH MAKER'S MARK (NEUE STøCKEL 288) AND FITTED WITH REMOVABLE 80-BORE SIX-GROOVE SLEEVE THREADED AT THE BREECH END, FLAT LOCK ENGRAVED WITH FLOWERS AND FOLIAGE, INTEGRAL RAISED WHEEL-COVER ENGRAVED WITH TWO ADDORSED DOG-HEADED MONSTERS AND PIERCED WITH A HEART-SHAPED DESIGN, AND SLIDING PAN-COVER, THE COCK ENGRAVED WITH AN EAGLE AND PIERCED WITH A MONSTER, FRUITWOOD FULL STOCK WITH FLUTED FORE-END (RAMROD CHANNEL CHIPPED), INLAID ON THE BUTT WITH LINES ENCLOSING ENGRAVED PELLETS, FLOWERHEADS AND ENGRAVED PANELS, AND ON THE CHEEK-PIECE WITH TWO BEARS EATING FRUIT FROM A TREE, ALL IN WHITE STAGHORN, INDENTED IRON TRIGGER-GUARD WITH CHISELLED FINIAL, SET TRIGGER, PATCH-BOX CONTAINING A LATER COMBINATION SPANNER AND BARREL-KEY AND WITH STAGHORN COVER (SMALL REPAIR) ENGRAVED WITH SCROLLWORK AND A RUNNING STAG, HORN BUTT-PLATE (CRACKED), IRON BUTTON, ENGRAVED STAGHORN FORE-END CAP (INCOMPLETE) AND RAMROD-PIPES, AND HORN-TIPPED WOODEN RAMROD (IRON PARTS WITH LIGHT PITTING)
24IN. (61CM.) BARREL
THIS RIFLE WAS MADE TO FIRE BALL (FOR BOAR SHOOTING), AS WELL AS A BULLET (FOR ROEDEER ETC.)
Provenance
ALFRED COX, GLENDOICK, PERTHSHIRE
W. KEITH NEAL, CHRISTIE'S, 8 NOVEMBER 1995, LOT 65

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