Fine German Silesian Wheel-lock birding/sporting rilfe c1650s with octagonal sighted barrel swamped at the muzzle, rifled and with 'Gruber' ? engraved on the top flat of the breech, flat lock with classical scene engraved and fitted with wheel-bracket with sliding pan cover. Fruitwood full stock profusely decorated over its entire length with mythical grotesque figures and foliate inlays in horn. The sliding patchbox with decorative horn veneers and the rifle retains its original horn-tipped ramrod with the front pipe missing. Iron trigger guard and patch box catch. All in all, a wonderful and early example. Overall length 93cms