2020 September Premier, Volume I

BOTH SIDES PICTURED
LOT 263
Elaborate Documented Gold-
Inlaid Ormolu-Mounted Wheel Lock
Target Rifle by Marcus Zellner of Vienna
with Silver Inlaid/Relief Carved Stock - NSN, 62
cal., 31 3/8 inch octagon bbl., blue/bright finish, walnut
stock. The swamped, octagonal, rifled barrel has the gold-inlaid maker’s name “MARCUS ZELLNER
IN WIENN” just ahead of a large gold-inlaid arabesque panel. The breech tang is scroll engraved. It
features a finely filed single-standing rear sight with single folding leaf, simple dove-tailed front sight
surrounded by gold-inlaid scrolls, flat lock plate entirely decorated with engraved scrolls surrounding
the inscribed maker’s name “Marcus Zellner/in Wienn”, cock jaws decorated with shell-form scroll
patterns, and walnut full-stock inlaid overall with silver-wire forming scrolls between large panels of
high-relief carved foliated scrolls and numerous inset scroll decorated ormolu plates, ormolu trigger
guard, ramrod pipes and forend tip. Marcus Zellner (Markus Zelner) was active c. 1693-1758, see “Der
Neue Stockel” by Heer on page 1433. Includes a brief note signed by
Wallace Gusler and dated April 22, 2016.
CONDITION: Fine. The barrel has a blue-brown patina. The lock-plate is a medium grey patina over mild pitting. The edge of barrel channel has losses on each side, and the stock is cracked through wrist though it shows mostly on
the inside. The crack remains visible near trigger guard. The barrel pins and a few screws are absent. It displays the expected wear to gilding on the brass mountings. The hair-trigger is broken, and the lock is untested.
Provenance: Joe Kindig, Jr. to Peter Tillou in 1962.
Estimate: 9500 - 16000
236
LOT 264
Fine Italian Style Plug Bayonet with Sheath - Predating the rise of the later socket and lug mounted weapons, the plug bayonet was a major step in arms development, allowing a man to switch on the fly from carrying a firearm
to carrying a spear or lance, giving him the advantages of both weapons. Originally adopted by hunters and then militaries in the early 17th century, the bayonet was a game changer in terms of land warfare, greatly devaluing
the melee weapons still in use and rendering the then-dominant “pike and shot” formations of mixed spears and muskets obsolete, setting the firearm on its path to being the de-facto standard infantry armament worldwide.
Measuring 19 3/4 inches overall, the 13 5/8 inch blade has a triangular cross-section, with gold accented wire etching on a niter blue field adorning the lower two-thirds, bearing scroll and martial motifs. The short cross guard is
also gold washed, with a smooth ebony grip with muzzle swell and a brass pommel cap. With a brown leather sheath.
CONDITION: Fine. The very fine blade shows 80% strong nitre blue and gold finish, with a mixed gray on the upper third and scattered spotting. The grip is very good, with cracks and some chips around the pommel. The sheath is
good, with scuffs, cracks, and some loose stitching.
Estimate: 3000 - 4500