GUN FALL 2016
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
WENZEL OF EXHIBITION QUALITY. WURZINGER WÄNZL RIFLE 343 8.15x46 This action was sold in Vienna, Austria by L. Wurzinger. It was based on an Austrian military design greatly modified and adapted for use in a target rifle. This rifle was obviously made for someone or something of importance. The action, engraved with Wurzinger's name is somewhat similar in operation to a Springfield Trapdoor. It is wonderfully engraved and inlaid in gold in an unusual and attractive relief style by a true master. The hammer and firing pin support are deeply chiseled heads of sea serpents. The metal is fabulously carved. The top of the action shows intricate gold inlays which are a continuation of that shown on the lock plate. The rear and front sight appear correct but there is a spacer engraved and inlaid in the bbl where there was probably a bbl sight. The bbl is 28-3/4" long and fluted. Three extensive gold inlays are found on the bbl, one at the breech, one just in front of the forearm and another just behind the front sight. The rifle was probably originally chambered for one of the fat bottle neck designs that were so popular in the 1880's. The barrel is now a smoothbore. A moderate amount of top quality carving is found on the butt as well as a carved forend. Even the buttplate is finely engraved. PROVENANCE: Alte Scheibenwaffen Vol. 2 pgs 296-297; Classic German Target Arms pgs. 112-115. The Allen Hallock Collection.
CONDITION: The one-piece stock is in fine condition with just a few minor handling marks. Fine overall with just some discoloration of the blue. Oddly the bbl has no rifling and the cataloger surmises that the bbl was probably a candidate to be relined, but the liner was never installed. Installing a liner would be a simple process. Overall this is just a spectacular example of a fairly rare System. 50900-23 TWR (8,000-15,000)