The Lorenzoni repeater system was designed by Michele Lorenzoni c. 1680 and was among the first practical repeating firearms. They were manufactured by multiple gunmakers, including John Cookson, in Europe and North America in the 17th and 18th century but never produced in significant numbers and were naturally only available to wealthy clients, including European kings and princes. They rarely come available, but when they do, they can be found in a variety of variations in the design due to various gunmakers experimenting with the system. On this example, which is very Germanic in styling, the buttstock has a tube magazine accessed via a button on the heel, automatic pan priming system built into the outside of the lock under the pan with a small cover on the bottom, and a powder reservoir accessed via a sliding door on the left side plate. To load the rifle, the lever on the left is simply rotated forward and back allowing a rapid rate of fire in an era dominated by single shot muzzle loaders. The swamped barrel has faint rifling, a dovetailed brass blade front sight, and a floral mark on the lower right flat at the breech. The lever is a spiral design with a bestial mask at the front and a brass knob on the rear. The brass action has a groove for the rear sight on top between two holes, two additional holes on the bottom, and scroll, border, and floral engraving. The brass trigger guard has a stag scene on the bow, wavy borders, and filework on the front and rear. The lock has an interesting series of filed grooves and ridges on the various components and a checkerboard pattern on the powder magazine. The buttplate has two "4" marks on the tip of the finial followed by what appears to be an "N" and then an "M." The stock has some attractive molding and floral carving, tear drop flats, a long but shallow cheek rest on the left, and a sling loop on the bottom. Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr

Good with more than half of the dull refinished blue finish over extensive moderate pitting along the barrel, aged patina on the brass, crack in the frame by the trigger, gray and brown patina on the bright iron components, and general mild wear. The otherwise very good stock has some loss by the trigger, nice carving, some subtle flame figure, and mild dings and scratches. Mechanically fine. A fascinating and rarely seen early repeater.