November 15 & 16, 2022 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2022
Behr is recorded variously in Wurzburg, Liege, Wallerstein, and Darmstadt between 1700 and 1740, with most of his production between 1720-1740. This example has a 13 - 1/2" octagonal-to-hexagonal-to-round barrel with a partially flattened sighting rib, 2 wedding bands at transition of faceted barrel portion to round portion. Beveled edge banana lock with faceted pan, unbridled pan cover, signed "I I BEHR". Swan neck cock. Ramrod, probably a replacement, retained by a single faceted ferrule before feeding into a reinforced mouth. Full length stock with pointed finial relief carving around reinforced mouth. Plain brass trigger guard with an unengraved finial in the shape of a bulbous urn. Relief floral carving around tang. Elaborate serpentine sideplate with a dragon's head engraved towards fore bolt. Flared butt with faceted cap and long stirrups. Dan Hartzler has attributed Behr as a gunmaker for the Maryland Committee of Safety. CONDITION: Overall good. Iron is turning a chocolate brown patina throughout with flashes of dove grey, primarily along stockline and on lock. Stock is fair showing evidence of use throughout, showing softness to the carving, and with some chipping and cracks, primarily to buttcap but a few others scattered about. More significant pieces missing on left side of barrel tang, and along buttcap. Mechanically fine, bore is very good with a minimum of oxidation.
Caliber/Bore
.69 Smoothbore