Though this example offered looks like a flintlock, it is actually a muzzleloading air rifle with a concealed stock reservoir that has a trapdoor on the buttplate for filling access. Air guns of this style were used primarily for hunting. "Wind guns" had several advantages over conventional firearms including that they were quieter, smokeless, quicker to reload, and relatively unaffected by rain. They also required less cleaning since they did not require corrosive black powder like the flintlocks that this example is modeled after. "WENTZLAV" marked in a ribbon held by a lion on the tail of the lock and "EHRNBREITSTEIN/No. 174" marked at the center of the lock, with a goose neck cock. A Johann Christian "Wentslau" (Wentzlau, Wenzlau, Wenslau) of Koblenz is listed as active circa 1747-1784, court gunsmith to the landgraves of Hesse-Darmstadt, and also to Ehrenbreitstein fortress, where this embellished air rifle likely once resided. Octagon barrel with 7-groove rifling that measures approximately .50 caliber/13 mm, bead front sight and filled in rear dovetail. Features floral scroll, border and scenes engraved on the breech of the barrel, lock and brass fittings, and floral relief carvings in the stock with teardrop flats. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection

Good, with gray patina and scattered mild brown spotting on the iron surfaces, and mostly legible engraving. The refinished stock is also good with scattered scratches, handling marks cracks, and a few small chips and repaired sections. The buttplate trapdoor is bent and not properly affixed. The set trigger functions, the hammer will not remain cocked, needs work.