Wheellock Rifle
c. 1720
Medium
Steel, silver, walnut, horn, staghorn, and mother-of-pearl
Dimensions
L. 117 cm (46 1/4 in.) Barrel L. 85.7 cm (33 3/4 in.) Wt. 11 lb. 4 oz. Caliber .47
Classification
firearm-long gun
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
108758
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Despite the invention of the simpler flintlock, the wheellock remained in use for hunting well into the 18th century, as the ignition was a split second faster. This could make a difference when hunting deer, sensitive enough to react to the sound of the ignition before the bullet left the gun. On later wheellocks, such as this example, the wheel is concealed under the lock plate. The decorative inlay of engraved mother-of-pearl, silver, and staghorn, with its florid designs of S- and C scrolls...