historical replica or real thing?

[oldglimmer]

Dear muzzleloading friends,

I recently bought as "decoration" on a German online platform (I live in Germany), a wheel lock pistol that does not look at all like a modern replica. The previous owner had no clue at all, as to what he was selling. My local gunsmith says it's a real wheel lock gun, and the wheel still works (only one try) and sets the trigger (one pull)...

But on the German gun forums, most guys said it looks like a historical fake.

I am kind of at a loss, and would be happy to hear any and all opinions and maybe see any similar references (most wheel lock guns I find in books and online seem much more elaborately worked)...

Thank you for your insight!
Greetings from Bavaria!

 

[PathfinderNC]

Took about two seconds to determine it is a reproduction. And a bad one at that.
I can’t understand why there is an American Eagle emblem in the casting at the breech

 

[Sam squanch]

I’d see another gunsmith if he can’t tell that from the real thing. A lot of these were gotten up in Victorian times to sell as wall decorations for the upper middle classes that came into $$ and wanted their domicile to have that “ old money “ look.

 

[tarawa1943]

Older reproduction or not, it is a cool piece. I am bidding on a similar gun, but it is a French wheellock. It is advertised as a modern reproduction. They say that the lock is function, whatever that may mean.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Older reproduction or not, it is a cool piece. I am bidding on a similar gun, but it is a French wheellock. It is advertised as a modern reproduction. They say that the lock is function, whatever that may mean.

Uh oh ... we should have communicated, as I had bid on that one too! I'll defer to you and will not bid against you!

To the OP, if truly German i would say there would be maker's marks on the barrels and on the lockplate, inside or out. Checking the breech plug could verify if possibly a real barrel. But note it was VERY common to build 'repros' in the late 1800s in Europe, of fire locks that were a mix match of both real and FAKE or reproduction parts.

 

[oldglimmer]

thanks so much to all of you! i just received the answer from one of the more upscale auction houses here, and they also said it’s a 19th C repro.
… well, it will go to someone who wants it on their wall…
Still very exciting researching wheel locks and their various types…