EXTRAORDINARY SAXON WHEEL LOCK MUSKET CIRCA 1570 DECORATED IN THE STYLE OF THE MASTER, KLAUS HIRT.

Revised: 10/13/2013

Please Note: We were recently contacted by Ray Petry who at one time also owned this gun. Mr. Petry pointed out that the rear sight is missing on the gun. He is absolutely correct and that is visible in the catalog illustrations but we want to point it out here as well to be certain there is no misunderstanding.

EXTRAORDINARY SAXON WHEEL LOCK MUSKET CIRCA 1570 DECORATED IN THE STYLE OF THE MASTER, KLAUS HIRT. SN NSN. Gun is unique insofar as it is made without a patch box, but instead has a facsimile patch box inlaid into the stock itself. The quality of the inlay is extremely fine and incredibly profuse consisting of mythological faces, engraved stag horn pellets, and horn tendrils. Cheek piece features finely inlaid anatomically correct nude woman holding a basket. Underside features an anatomically nude woman holding an early 16th century style falchion. The simulated ramrod pipes are scrimshawed with a sphinx, a satyr and a lion face, respectively. Forend has three winged angel heads on either side. Lock features a domed wheel cover, characteristic of Saxon arms and a push-on safety as well as beautifully filed and articulated springs. Dog is finely formed with all original small parts and rudimentary decoration. Oct bbl is of so-called “Spanish” form, octagonal to round with finely filed nearly orthoptic rear sight and blade front sight. Muzzle is swamped, as are most wheel lock guns and pistols of this period. The degree of sophistication evidenced in the inlay of this particular wheel lock places it in the forefront of examples from the Sirkin collection. This is likely one of the series of such arms made for very high-ranking officers in the Saxon electoral guard. Whereas the inlay on this gun cannot be specifically attributed to Klaus Hirt, it certainly displays the same high quality of both design and execution as existing examples of Hirt’s wheel lock pistols. NOTE: This superb gun represents an opportunity to acquire one of the best wheel locks to be offered in recent years. A similar example without the unique faux patchbox and having a replaced bbl was sold in London at the sale of Hever Castle in 1983 as lot 73. PROVENANCE: See Hans Leiden Collection Sale Catalog, 1934, Plate #35, p. 57. Collection of Graf Bochholtz #724. Collection Hanz C. Liden for Koln 1934, sale catalog #730, illustrated on plate 35. Dr. Hanz Schedlemann. Joseph Kindig, Jr. Collection of Dr. Douglas Sirkin. CONDITION: Stock is excellent overall with very few period replacements to the inlay and no discernible damage to wood. Scrimshaw remains in excellent condition showing little or no wear. Lock is crisp and actually retains some traces of its original bluing. Bbl is clean and bright, edges are sharp and crisp throughout. Trigger guard original. 4-50040 MZ7 (25,000-50,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2013

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2463	$37,950.00	Revised: 10/13/2013 Please Note: We were recently contacted by Ray Petry who at one time also owned this gun. Mr. Petry pointed out that the rear sight is missing on the gun. He is absolutely correct and that is visible in the catalog illustrations but we want to point it out here as well to be certain there is no misunderstanding. EXTRAORDINARY SAXON WHEEL LOCK MUSKET CIRCA 1570 DECORATED IN THE STYLE OF THE MASTER, KLAUS HIRT. SN NSN. Gun is unique insofar as it is made without a patch box, but instead has a facsimile patch box inlaid into the stock itself. The quality of the inlay is extremely fine and incredibly profuse consisting of mythological faces, engraved stag horn pellets, and horn tendrils. Cheek piece features finely inlaid anatomically correct nude woman holding a basket. Underside features an anatomically nude woman holding an early 16th century style falchion. The simulated ramrod pipes are scrimshawed with a sphinx, a satyr and a lion face, respectively. Forend has three winged angel heads on either side. Lock features a domed wheel cover, characteristic of Saxon arms and a push-on safety as well as beautifully filed and articulated springs. Dog is finely formed with all original small parts and rudimentary decoration. Oct bbl is of so-called “Spanish” form, octagonal to round with finely filed nearly orthoptic rear sight and blade front sight. Muzzle is swamped, as are most wheel lock guns and pistols of this period. The degree of sophistication evidenced in the inlay of this particular wheel lock places it in the forefront of examples from the Sirkin collection. This is likely one of the series of such arms made for very high-ranking officers in the Saxon electoral guard. Whereas the inlay on this gun cannot be specifically attributed to Klaus Hirt, it certainly displays the same high quality of both design and execution as existing examples of Hirt’s wheel lock pistols. NOTE: This superb gun represents an opportunity to acquire one of the best wheel locks to be offered in recent years. A similar example without the unique faux patchbox and having a replaced bbl was sold in London at the sale of Hever Castle in 1983 as lot 73. PROVENANCE: See Hans Leiden Collection Sale Catalog, 1934, Plate #35, p. 57. Collection of Graf Bochholtz #724. Collection Hanz C. Liden for Koln 1934, sale catalog #730, illustrated on plate 35. Dr. Hanz Schedlemann. Joseph Kindig, Jr. Collection of Dr. Douglas Sirkin. CONDITION: Stock is excellent overall with very few period replacements to the inlay and no discernible damage to wood. Scrimshaw remains in excellent condition showing little or no wear. Lock is crisp and actually retains some traces of its original bluing. Bbl is clean and bright, edges are sharp and crisp throughout. Trigger guard original. 4-50040 MZ7 (25,000-50,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2013 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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