BY FRIEDRICH JAKOB BOSLER, DARMSTADT, CIRCA 1740

Details

A Fine 34-Bore German 'Flintlock' Sporting Air Rifle
By Friedrich Jakob Bosler, Darmstadt, circa 1740
With swamped octagonal sighted barrel cut with seven grooves, the breech with crowned maker's stamp lined with gilt-copper and cut with a line of beadwork at the rear, engraved tang, flat bevelled lock engraved with a sporting trophy on the tail and engraved 'No. 3 F.I. Bosler. De. Darmstat (sic)', moulded figured walnut full stock (light bruising, crack in butt) carved with foliage in relief and with cheek-piece, the butt housing the air reservoir, brass mounts finely engraved with strapwork, foliage, and emblems of the chase, including pierced side-plate, the trigger-guard with the figure of Diana, the butt-plate numbered '33' and with engraved sprung hinged cover to the aperture for the pump, engraved octagonal brass ramrod-pipes, set trigger, horn fore-end cap, iron sling mount (rear one missing), and later horn-tipped ramrod, with a chamois leather bag of lead balls, some of them flattened by firing at an iron target
30¾in. (78.1cm.) barrel

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.

Lot Essay

F.J. Bosler (1717-1793) was the son of Johann Peter Bosler (d. 1742) and brother of Johann Philipp Bosler. Like his father, he specialised in air weapons. See footnote to the preceding lot

Similar Bosler air rifles, in addition to those at Kranichstein, are to be found at the Royal Armouries, Leeds (inv. no. XII. 715) and Windsor Castle (inv. no. L 273)

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