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  • Auction Catalog #4092
  • Lot #280
Lot #279
Lot #281

Lot 280: Eastern European Tschinke Small Caliber Wheellock Birding Rifle

Very Fine and Well-Documented Eastern European Tschinke Small Caliber Wheellock Birding Rifle with Elaborately Inlaid and Engraved Stock Ex-Hearst Collection

Auction Location: Bedford, TX

Auction Date: August 23, 2024

Lot 280: Eastern European Tschinke Small Caliber Wheellock Birding Rifle

Very Fine and Well-Documented Eastern European Tschinke Small Caliber Wheellock Birding Rifle with Elaborately Inlaid and Engraved Stock Ex-Hearst Collection

Auction Location: Bedford, TX

Auction Date: August 23, 2024

Estimated Price: $9,000 - $14,000
Price Realized:
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Very Fine and Well-Documented Eastern European Tschinke Small Caliber Wheellock Birding Rifle with Elaborately Inlaid and Engraved Stock Ex-Hearst Collection

Manufacturer: Unknown
Model: Wheellock
Type: Rifle
Gauge: 36
Barrel: 35 inch octagon
Finish: bright
Grip:
Stock: hardwood
Item Views: 3013
Item Interest: Very Active
Serial Number:
Catalog Page: 278
Class: Antique
Description:

This distinctive rifle is one of a group of small caliber wheellock rifles with the mechanism situated on the outside of the lock plate from in and around Teschen, Silesia, in present day Poland in the mid-17th century. They are believed to have been made for hunting birds and other small game and are generally incredibly ornate leading to examples being purchased for and displayed in a number of prestigious art museums in the U.S. and Europe. The swamped barrel has six-groove rifling, a dovetailed brass blade front sight, a dovetailed iron notch rear sight, and an iron tang that extends down the wrist. The dog has floral engraving. The finger groove trigger guard is iron. The stock features extensive staghorn/bone inlays in a wide variety of patterns including both animals such as squirrels, stags, and bears along with mythical creatures such as the unicorn featured on the bottom flat. A hunter and soldier are among the designs on the butt, and the buttplate is engraved with a scene of an eagle with a snake in its beak. Includes an Academic Arms Center of America certificate of weapon authenticity signed by F. Theodore D. Dexter dated May 1, 1958. Provenance: The William Randolph Hearst Collection; The W. Keith Neal Collection; The Norman R. Blank Collection

Rating Definition:

Very fine with gray and brown patina on the iron, and general mild wear. The stock is also very fine and features mostly crisp engraving on the numerous inlays, some faint cracks, bent heel button, and small piece of the buttplate absent. Lock not tested. A beautiful piece of mid-17th century firearm with prestigious provenance worthy of being put proudly on display.



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