April 11-13, 2023 Firearms and Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/12/2023
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-round barrel with 2 wedding rings at the girdle and a simple brass blade front sight. Beveled edge banana lock with faceted pan, plain swan neck cock, signed "I. I. BEHR" under pan. Ramrod, probably a replacement, with a brass tip retained by a single line-decorated ferrule before feeding into a reinforced mouth. Full length stock with relief pointed carving around reinforced mouth. Plain brass trigger guard with an unengraved finial in the shape of an urn, protecting a single tailed trigger. Relief carving around tang with a brass geometric thumbpiece and serpentine sideplate, engraved with a draconic head. Flared butt with raised staged cap and long stirrups. Dan Hartzler has attributed Behr as a gunmaker for the Maryland Committee of Safety. CONDITION: Overall good. Barrel is essentially dove grey with some even light oxidation. Stock is good showing evidence of wear throughout with some spots of dryness, handling, and pressure marks. Some spots of shrinkage away from furniture at buttcap and bottom of trigger guard tang. Some minor crazing to varnish and a crack near fore barrel pin. Wood has an extra layer of varnish. Mechanically fine, bore is very good with a minimum of oxidation.
Caliber/Bore
.69 Smoothbore