AN AUSTRIAN WHEEL-LOCK SPORTING RIFLE stocked by the so-called Meister der Tierkopfranke, with octagonal barrel rifled with eight grooves and struck with barrelsmith's initials SM at the breech, plain flat lock with integral wheel-cover pierced with a heart, stained walnut full stock with fluted fore-end (repaired), the butt and patch-box cover with panels carved in relief with animals and scrolls, iron trigger-guard, horn butt-plate (incomplete), later staghorn ramrod-pipe and fore-end cap, and associated ramrod (set trigger mechanism missing), circa 1650

Details

AN AUSTRIAN WHEEL-LOCK SPORTING RIFLE stocked by the so-called Meister der Tierkopfranke, with octagonal barrel rifled with eight grooves and struck with barrelsmith's initials SM at the breech, plain flat lock with integral wheel-cover pierced with a heart, stained walnut full stock with fluted fore-end (repaired), the butt and patch-box cover with panels carved in relief with animals and scrolls, iron trigger-guard, horn butt-plate (incomplete), later staghorn ramrod-pipe and fore-end cap, and associated ramrod (set trigger mechanism missing), circa 1650
30¼in. barrel [E.166, S.10]

Literature

H. Schedelmann,"The Master of the Animal-head Scroll", No.32
Die Großen Büchsenmacher, p.98

Lot Essay

The work of the hitherto unidentified stockmaker 'The Master of the Animal-head scroll' includes a number of weapons connected with the court of the Habsburg Emperor Ferdinand III (1637-57), of which three are believed to have belonged to the Emperor himself, and some of his stocks have locks and barrels by Vienna and Salzburg makers. He is likely to have worked in Vienna

Over fifty wheel-lock guns, rifles and pistols, and one flintlock rifle with his distinctive carving have been identified

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