Fine Quality Wheellock Rifle, ca. 1700, Probably German

Featuring unmarked 30 1/4” octagonal barrel in 14 mm caliber, with fixed rear notch and shallow front blade sights and swamped muzzle. Unadorned lock with unmarked flat lockplate with internal wheel. Fruitwood full stock profusely inlaid with carved bone over its entire surface, depicting hunters, hounds, and various game animals amid scrolling foliage; the flat cheekpiece with central figure of a hunter on horseback with a sword and hounds savaging a deer. Horn butt cap and fore end cap, sliding patchbox cover (catch broken); inlaid decorative brass thumb rest and ramrod thimbles. Double set trigger and iron trigger guard with finger rests. Horn-tipped wood ramrod, lacking the worm it was originally fitted with. Lock not tested. Metal with light pitting, primarily at the barrel breech, with dark patina. Stock very good, with several splits near the fore end; the inlay near excellent for its age, with only minor losses. The patchbox cover loose and does not stay in place due to the broken catch. Overall length 42”. The stock is a work of art of exceptional quality; the mounts rather plain, as often the case with highly decorated stocks. Recently acquired from the estate of an advanced collector.