This very scarce example of a wheel lock/matchlock musket that was manufactured circa 1680 in Suhl, Germany, for the Imperial Austrian Army. The two stage barrel has fixed blade and notch sights, a rooster with an "S" (Suhl) on the upper right flat at the breech, a mark with an arrow on top ("ES"?), a faint mark on the upper left flat (should be "SUL"), and an additional unclear maker's stamps above the Suhl rooster. The lock has no markings on the outside, but the inside has a "CK" maker's mark. The beech full stock is struck with an asterisks behind the barrel tang. It has iron furniture throughout, including a buttplate secured by three nails. The dual mechanism is a clever solution to the potentially unreliable wheel lock system failing in battle as it would allow the musketeer to quickly switch to the older matchlock mechanism. These muskets are rarely encountered outside of museum collections.

Very good. Some professional restoration visible at the wrist in and around the breech and rear lock plate, light gray patina, minor pitting, some tool mark on the barrel, a gap at the front of the lock inlet, minor scrapes and dings, a few chips, and minor insect damage. Appears mechanically complete, but the wheel lock mechanism has not been tested.