GUN FALL 2016
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
EXTREMELY RARE, ELABORATE AND EXTREMELY FINE CIRCA 1700 BAVARIAN BARREL RESERVOIR AIR GUN BY ANDREAS WETSCHGIN.ANDREAS WESCHGINAIR RIFLENSN8MMCal. 8mm. 49-1/2" overall, 35-7/8" oct brass bbl, slightly swamped with fixed rear and front blade sight. Rear sight is mounted on 4-sided, 3" engraved pedestal and is signed "ANDREAS WETSCHGIN AUGUSTAE". Andreas Wetschgin, according to Stockel, worked in Augsburg, 1690-1716. Lock and hammer are finely engraved in floral scrolls. Figured full walnut stock has relief and incised designs toward butt and full flutes carved on forestock. Polished bone nosecap and front ramrod thimble are foliate engraved with rear relief zig-zag carved band, which is also carved in stock and interface of fluted carving in forestock, and also en suite with same border framing buttcap and sliding wood patchbox cover. Large 6" brass sideplate is pierced and engraved with foliage terminating in two dragon heads. Dbl set triggers with moulded steel trigger guard shaped for the fingers, steel trigger plate with pierced foliate finials. Horn buttcap, pierced foliate and arabesque 5-1/2" x 2" silver applique to reservoir breech and 2" foliate silver tang extension. A less ornate example signed only with "AW" and "orb" is shown as Fig. 38 in Arne Hoff's text Airguns and Other Pneumatic Arms, London, 1972. This is a truly exemplary piece of art that amazingly has survived in such extraordinary condition after 300 years. CONDITION: Gun appears fine overall. Mechanically gun is functional including pump mechanism from butt of stock, though seal no longer holds air well. Bore is clean and smooth. Surfaces exhibit old cleaning with light varnish surface overall. Gun appears orig and complete, missing 1 screw to silver applique over breech. 50676-1 JS (12,500-17,500)