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Wheel-lock Ignition from a Sporting Rifle

Date
dated 1696
Material
Iron and steel
Classification
Arms & armor
Current Location
On View, Gallery 138
Dimensions
4 x 11 1/8 x 3 1/8 in. (10.2 x 28.3 x 7.9 cm)
weight: 1 lb. 4 oz. (0.6 kg)
Credit Line
Museum Purchase
Rights
Public Domain
Object Number
265:1923
NOTES
Making sparks like a modern cigarette lighter, the wheel-lock was the first of the spark-producing, self-igniting systems for firearms. Without a source of live flame, they were very safe, yet because they were so complex, the expense in making them often restricted their use to pistols and guns of high quality. This lockplate surface is enriched with hunting scenes, and is fully signed and dated.
- 1923
Sumner Healey Antiquaire, New York, NY [1]

1923 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from Sumner Healey Antiquaire [2]


Notes:
[1] The main source for this provenance is the Sumner Healey Antiquaire invoice, dated April 12th, 1923 [SLAM document files].

[2] Minutes of the Administrative Board of Control of the City Art Museum, April 6, 1923.

We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.