Amberg Antique

MANY ANTIQUE FIREARMS have unknown or untraceable provenance. Of course, a maker’s name will confirm the country of origin, and if stamped with a dealer’s name, this will at least give the owner/collector some idea as to where the firearm was used. In very few cases an old piece will have been retained by a family for generations but usually, the only information forthcoming will be that it belonged to a great grandfather. A date stamped on the metalwork is helpful. Other than this, we can but guess, but imagining that the gun saw action in a famous battle or travelled on a journey of discovery does add a certain creative charisma.

Recently I had the pleasure of examining and firing a rare muzzle-loading rifle. The moment my collector friend passed it to me, the word ‘military’ sprang to mind. It was a heavy, solidly built, soldier-proof weapon with a gaping muzzle I could push my finger into and feel the rifling. But, hold on,