Multi-shot flintlock pistols and long guns were the forerunners of the true revolvers of the 19th century and are very rare and highly desirable antique arms. A small number of firearms built using the system on this long gun in three and four-shot variations were manufactured by a group of gunmakers operating in the spa town of Carlsbad in Bohemia in the first half of the 18th century. Naturally, these advanced firearms were reserved for the nobility, and King Christian IV of Denmark is known to have owned a pair of pistols from Carlsbad using this system. The system used on this gun is similar to the "wender" or "turn-over" design employed on double barrel pistols and long guns in the flintlock era, but instead of having multiple complete barrels, the gun has three 4 1/4 inch chambers with pans and frizzens mounted to the sides of each. By giving each chamber its own pan and frizzen, no complicated automatic priming mechanism is required. After pulling on the release trigger at the front of the trigger guard, these chambers are manually rotated to bring them into alignment with the main barrel and the shared lock which is back action format. The lock is manually cocked each time. This would significantly improve the time between shots compared to a single shot firearm and would also be more durable and less complex to manufacture than many of the other rare multi-shot designs of the era. As with the pistols of this pattern we have seen, the frizzens and long, straight frizzen springs are mounted to separate plates running from the side of each chamber ahead of the pan to the front of circular plate at the junction of the chambers and barrel. There is also a second rear breech plate and a round plate on the breech end of the barrel. The latter plate and the front plate mounted to the chambers have holes to allow loading from the front. Since you are not required to load down the barrel, the ramrod is shorter as well. This arrangement also keeps the vents out of line with one another which should limit the risk of chain fires. The swamped smoothbore barrel has a brass blade front sight, blue finish, octagonal breech section, "JOHANN HADISCH WEILER IN CARLSBAD" signed on top, and floral and border engraving at the breech. The chambers are engraved with different classical figures and scroll patterns. One figure is likely Athena/Minerva, another Selene/Luna, and the last appears to be a contemporary figure as she wears a broad hat with a feather. The upper tang has scroll engraving and a small female bust. The back action lock has a scene of a horsemen shooting a stag with a pistol as it is attacked by a pair of dogs and another man is in the background. It also has fine scroll patterns. The furniture is gilt brass. The trigger guard has a female bust on the bow. The sideplate has a high relief scene of a hunter shooting at a rabbit pursued by his three dogs in a detailed scene. The buttplate tang has a large high relief rendition of a classical figure playing a flute, and the back of the buttplate has incised scroll patterns. The short forend and buttstock have fine molding, raised relief scroll carving, a horn forend cap, and nice figure.

Exceptionally fine with crisp engraving and designs, 70% original blue finish along the barrel, faded patches turning to smooth gray and brown patina, smooth gray patina on the lock and chambers, strong fire blue on the frizzen springs and triggers, 90% gilt finish on the brass furniture, aged patina on the exposed brass, and minor overall wear. The stock and forearm are both fine and have attractive figure and carving, a thin crack on the right side of the butt, another on the rear of the forend, and generally minor overall wear mainly at the edges. Mechanically excellent. This is a very attractive and rare early 18th century revolving flintlock sporting gun in exceptional condition and exhibiting beautiful work throughout.