EARLY 17TH CENTURY GERMAN WHEEL-LOCK MUSKET
Early 17th Century German wheel-lock hunting musket. Antler patch box cover, inlaid antler or bone carving in left side of stock. Fish scale pattern covering entire stock.
Provenance: Collection of Jack Barnhill (1918 - 2015). Jack lived an intriguing life, engaging in a wide variety of endeavors, including photographer, inventor, artist, collector, trader, museum owner, and firearm dealer. He grew up splitting time between Florida and New Mexico, where his father was engaged in many businesses. As a young man he wrestled alligators at his father's Trading Post in Dania, FL. And then, at the age of 13 he opened his first Trading Post in New Mexico, where he bought and traded Native American pottery and baskets. As an adult, Jack began running businesses in Florida and Michigan. For over 40 years, he shuttled between St. Ignace, MI where he ran a very successful tourist business (Treasure Island) in the summer, and Plantation, FL in the winter. His Michigan business began with a simple tourist shop and expanded over the years to include a Museum, 100,000 gallon aquarium, and passenger boat line. The museum housed thousands of items, including Native American artifacts, shipwreck coins and cannons, and antique arms. The aquarium hosted all sorts of sea life, including sharks and sea turtles which Jack shipped up from Florida. After learning to fly, Jack even purchased a seaplane and began flying passengers to the wilds of Canada. Following retirement from the tourist business in Michigan, Jack remained full-time in Florida, where he taught himself to paint, going on to exhibit his pieces in Florida art shows.

Some chips and nicks to stock, wheel lock mechanism appears overall good. Overall very good considering the age.