Museum Quality Early 17th Century Long Italian Wheel-Lock Holster Pistol By Piero Inzinfranci Circa 1605

17 and 3/4 inch octagonal barrel with cannon muzzle and faceted breech. 54 caliber. The barrel of superb quality signed “Piero Inzifranci” with engraved barrel tang. Brescian style lock with beautifully faceted dog. Interior of lock deeply stamped with sunken maker’s poincon letters “M” “S” framing a falcon within a shield. The working parts all intact and of superior quality.

Large steel sideplate following the contours of the lock opposite engraved with floral meander. Bow shaped steel triggerguard. Steel buttcap and turned ramrod pipe. Steel tipped ramrod possibly the original.

Walnut fullstock entirely raised carved throughout with acanthus leaves amid panels. The stock also carved forward of the triggerguard with a high relief grotesque face almost in the round. The honey patination is the result of 400 years of very careful handling. The surface literally glows. The entire stock is in very fine condition throughout.

The steel surfaces are lightly patinated with the barrel displaying light pitting in places but the signature is fine. This is a most attractive and entirely original pistol measuring 26 and 5/8th inches overall. The mechanism is functional. From a collection formed in the late 1960’s this museum piece has not been offered for nearly half a century. As good an Italian wheel-lock pistol as you are likely to find.