Lot 1372: Wheellock/Matchlock Combination Sporting Gun

Extensively ornamented wheellocks are staples of fine arms and art collections, and its easy to see why with their lavish decoration and unusual construction compared to later firearms. The fire blued barrel has a cannon style muzzle, decorative transition point with deep relief engraving, flutes with dished ends along the breech section, deep relief engraving at the breech, and "crown/anchor" and "PL" markings on top of the breech section. The lock incorporates both a serpentine for a match and a wheellock and has some light engraving accents. It has a plain single trigger and a long finger groove style iron trigger guard. The stock has extensive brass pin, wire, and plate inlays along with some inlaid staghorn lines. The brass inlays include floral designs, classical masks, martial trophies, and vignettes of classical figures. Provenance in the consignors notes include William Randolph Hearst, Southeby's Auction March 17, 1953 Lot 25, Illustrated in Guns and Rifles of the World by Howard Blackmore

Fine with strong blue finish in the protected areas of the barrel, smooth gray and brown patina on the balance of the iron, absent pan screw, some mild oxidation/pitting, aged patina on the brass inlays, some absent pins, minor flakes and hairline cracks, crack at the bottom of the lock, small gap at the front of the lock, chip at the nose of the comb, and a repair at the toe. The wheellock is not tested, and the matchlock mechanism appears to need some work.