The Victoria and Albert museum displays a identical decorative wheelock in their collection and it is known that British museums created decorative arms for 19th century collectors using their inventory and other museums most famous high art and royal arms. Interesting to note that Samuel Colt had such European 19th century masterpieces in his personal collection. Simply great antiquities in firearms were hard to find even 150 - 200 years ago and there was a large market for them.
The Victoria and Albert museum displays a identical decorative wheelock in their collection and it is known that British museums created decorative arms for 19th century collectors using their inventory and other museums most famous high art and royal arms. Interesting to note that Samuel Colt had such European 19th century masterpieces in his personal collection. Simply great antiquities in firearms were hard to find even 150 - 200 years ago and there was a large market for them.