Product Details
* A RARE 100-BORE STOCK-RESERVOIR PNEUMATIC AIR RIFLE OF FLINTLOCK FORM SIGNED WENTZLAU, serial no. 145,
German circa 1750, with muzzle-loading octagonal 29 1/2in. brass-lined smoothbore barrel, brass dove-tailed fore-sight, engraved standing notch rear-sight with dolphin-shaped foot, breech end engraved with a Romanesque bust and applied top-tang, flat lock with carved bevel-edge and pointed tail and signed below the false pan 'WENTZLAU AEHRNBREITSTEIN No. 145', the tail further engraved with a gamescene of a recumbent stag, a roosting bird engraved to the cock, walnut full-stock with raised cheek-piece, the top of wrist with inlet panel (by design), engraved brass furniture, the butt-plate with trap-door for the pump (pump absent), raised lower tang, double set triggers, pierced side-plate, engraved ramrod pipes and horn-tipped ramrod (repaired), some refinishing and sympathetic restoration
Provenance: Aehrnbreitstein is actually Ehrenbreitstein, a small town on the right side of the Rhine opposite Koblenz. Wentzlau was a rarity amongst his contemporaries as he conducted in the practice of applying serial numbers, the highest currently recorded being No. 147 which is currently in the collection of the Badisches Landesmuseum, Karlsruhe (exhibit G600). Some airguns produced by Wentzlau could also be used as powder weapons
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Estimate £1,000-2,000
Pre-1939