Original Austrian 18th Century Flintlock Pistol by Johann Fischer of Linz with Turning Frizzen Safety & Rifled Barrel

Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is a lovely 18th Century flintlock rifled pistol with a 12½” barrel and a lovely & unique safety mechanism, a frizzen that turns to the side and to the front to stop the flint from striking it. This is a truly gorgeous example bearing the maker’s mark on the lock plate: J=FISCHER From what we were told, this was manufactured by Johann Fischer of Linz, Austria, as is marked on the top of the barrel In. Linz. We believe that he is a member of the very famous "FISCHER" family, which dominated the Central European Fine Quality Target and Hunting gun market from the late 17th century until approximately 1900. The number 2 is engraved on the barrel tang, supposedly a serial number. The number 6 is carved on top of the grip, likely a rack number.  The lovely stylized brass fittings on the front of the trigger guard, the side plate, and the ramrod housing are emphasized with paralleled carvings in the wood beneath them, with further carvings around the ba