Project Description
!!!!!SOLD!!!!! This is an antique 1/2 scale wheellock by an unknown maker. 4 1/16″ long overall with a 2 1/2″ part octagon part flared round barrel of .278 caliber. The steel parts are very finely & beautifully engraved, the lockplate showing a snarling wolf along with boarders and scrolls. The cock & top jaw are engraved to resemble a dragon’s head. The right side of the waterproof pan engraved with the likeness of a cat of some kind. There is even engraving on the inside of the lock! The ivory stock also finely and beautifully scrimshaw carved & engraved. The left side showing a stag being chased by three hunting dogs. The ball butt is really ornate with a high relief sculpted gargoyle face on the bottom, with five more smaller ones around the perimeter, separated by five inset high relief floral engraved silver colored bands running from top to bottom. I don’t know the proper words to describe a piece like this, so I’ll let the photos do that for me. There is a hairline crack on the left side where someone tightened the screw holding the lock in place to tight, but it hardly noticeable and does not effect the integrity of the stock. The steel parts are a very pleasing patina gray. I do not believe this to be a period wheellock miniature as the screws are machine made. Never the less, it is still antique & very old. My educated guess is it was made in the early to mid 1800’s. A gorgeous piece and a real eye catcher! This exact miniature wheellock pistol sold as lot # 145 in a Greg Martin auction on November 06, 2006 for $6,242.50!!! This is the information from that auction:
“Lot 145
Rare and Fine Miniature Ivory-Stocked, Engraved and Scrimshawed Wheellock Ball Butt Pocket Pistol, c.19th-century or later
.28 caliber, 2 1/2-inch two-stage barrel with flared muzzle and octagonal breech, the facets scroll-engraved with roped border detail. Delicate lock mechanism, the cock engraved with the image of a cayman head, the wheel with a gold-washed grotesque face; lockplate with the image of a hunting dog. Engraved ivory stock with roped borders and floral scrolls. The left side with engraved hunting scene. Steel triggerguard, the bottom engraved with roped bands and florals. Engraved ivory ball-butt with cast silver floral bands and grotesque head bosses. Cast pommel cap with grotesque mask. Ivory ramrod. Condition: Excellent with light handling wear and patina. Estimate: $3000 – $5000″ You can see it here: http://www.collectorebooks.com/gregg01/Lot-145.htm
Price: $5,000.00. !!!!!SOLD!!!!!
TS