Contemporary Wheellock Rifle with Death Motifs by John B. Derrick (American, b.1936)

.54 caliber. 31" octagonal barrel length. SN: NSN. Bright metal finish. Full length stock is attractively figured walnut or mahogany with tiger striped appearance, and has rococo style molding and carvings to forearm and buttstock. Wheellock action rifle with neoclassical two leaf folding notch rear sight and fleur-de-lis brass blade front sight. Item features a patchbox with ramrod attachment. Left side of forearm has carved elk horn panels showing allegorical scenes, preceding several filigree fittings. Right side of forearm has successive elk horn fittings depicting Death tapping a hunter on the shoulder as he hunts what appears to be a rabbit following a fox. Side panel on left side features four carved elk horn fittings depicting the allegory of Leda and the Swan. Top of wrist has a elk horn banner carved JD/Fecit, and bottom of stock in front of triggerguard has a neoclassical heart shaped elk horn fitting. Buttstock has several carved elk horn fittings including a grotesque devil wrestling with a serpent on right side face, grotesque mask and German knotwork panel to bottom edge, neoclassical architectural motif to patchbox cover, and an unidentified castle on left side face. Item also has cast brass and silver fittings including a filigreed forend cap, several grotesque filigree fittings, medieval-style castle tower thimbles, and heavy brass filigree buttplate with silver vignette of a skeleton dressed as a hunter. Lock is from the Rifle Shoppe and was assembled by John Bosch, featuring engravings of an equestrian scene with two soldiers. Included with item is a brass tip ramrod.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Very good. Bore is bright. Finish has a few small clusters of oxidation scattered to barrel. Wood stock is in good condition. Patchbox latch is strong and somewhat difficult to open.

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Arms, Armor & Militaria

Contemporary Wheellock Rifle with Death Motifs by John B. Derrick (American, b.1936)

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