A Very Rare German 32-Bore Wheel-Lock Superimposed Load All-Metal Belt Pistol

Probably By Valentin Klett Of Suhl, Dated 1609

With swamped two-stage barrel overlaid with riveted bands of brass at the muzzle, mid-section and at the rear of the octagonal breech, the latter incised with maker's initials 'VK' and dated '1609' along the top flat, rectangular tang secured by a short screw through the stock, flat lock incised with maker's mark (Neue Støckel, 4688) and retained by three side-nails, fitted with two crescentic external wheels each overlaid with an engraved fan-shaped gilt-brass mount secured by a screw, scalloped pans each with foliate engraved manually-operated sprung pan-cover with release button shaped as a screw, cocks with chiselled and engraved decoration, on differing baluster arms and each with eagle-head terminal (restored), and engraved gilt-brass bridles each pierced with a heart, the full stock with incised line borders and cusped along the upper edges of the fore-stock, the butt incised with maker's initials behind the tang screw and with wire-bound leather-covered grip lined in wood, hinged ball-pommel with sprung button catch and encircled by an applied band punched with circles, the lid (steel terminal replaced) with applied pierced brass mount retaining traces of gilding, trigger-guard en suite, replacement blued trigger with external spring, external pivoting safety-catch acting against a spring, later steel belt hook, and no provision for a ramrod
26 cm. barrel