Project Description
This miniature was awarded NRA silver medal # 91 at the 2017 NRA Annual Meetings in Atlanta, Georgia, as one of the 2 best miniatures on exhibit!
!!!!!SOLD!!!!! This is an antique miniature wheellock pistol made by the earliest known miniature maker, Michael Mann, in England. Michael Mann is a very well known maker of miniature wheellock pistols and miniature coffin puzzle lock boxes. He made miniatures from 1580 – 1630. He was a fairly prolific maker, and several photos of his miniature wheellock pistols can be found on the internet. For provenance, I have sent photos of this to both Mr. Herbert Ratner and Mr. Michael Zomber. Both gentlemen are experts in very early antique firearms, and both have owned and/or sold Michael Mann miniatures in the past. Both gentlemen told me that this is a classic Michael Mann wheellock pistol. The pistol is about 2 1/8″ long overall with a 1.143″ long barrel of about .087 caliber. The barrel, lockplate, hammer, top jaw, trigger, ramrod, winding stem, wheel spring cover, and screws are made of steel finished in the white. The stock, pan, sliding pan cover, triggerguard, hanging chain, and a couple decorative pieces are heavily guilt brass. These tiny early firearms, which have about 160 different handmade parts, were made to shoot, and could be fired, but were typically worn as status jewelry by royalty and the extremely rich, thus the hanging chain where it would have been attached to a thin gold necklace and the pistol would be gracing the ample bosom cleavage of some very rich English socialite lady! Complete with an antique ebony hinged top casing with push button latch that although old, I don’t believe to be as old as the pistol. The case interior bottom lined in a red cloth with two small wood supports to hold the pistol in place. The interior top is unlined, and has a hole where the winding stem would fit. This is only the third Michael Mann wheellock I have ever had the chance to see in hand, and is the first I have been lucky enough to offer for sale. The pistol is in near mint condition, and has obviously been treasured and kept safe since made. When I received this piece, the rear triggerguard screw and ramrod were missing. Master gunsmith Mr. Larry Smith of Florida was kind enough to make proper replacements for me. Other than that, the piece is 100% fully functional, as stated to me by Mr. Smith, and in excellent condition. This is the Holy Grail of miniature collecting and would be the centerpiece of any firearms collection, miniature or full size!!! !!!!!SOLD!!!!!
