Details
A FINE 28-BORE VIENNESE FLINTLOCK SPORTING RIFLE
BY FELIX MEIER, CIRCA 1720-30
With etched twist swamped octagonal barrel cut with seven grooves, the breech signed in gold and decorated with gold-encrusted scrollwork framing a gold figure of a huntress with two dogs below, gilt-brass folding-leaf back-sight with chiselled and pierced tang, gilt-brass fore-sight set within gold-encrusted scrollwork, removable touch-hole, engraved gilt tang numbered '1', shaped signed bevelled lock finely engraved with figures and on the chiselled cock with scrollwork involving a dog and a bird, figured walnut full stock finely carved with foliage and strapwork in relief, full gilt-bronze mounts finely cast and chased with foliage and strapwork in relief on a punched ground (some wear to gilding), the butt-plate with two engraved standing Classical figures, probably Minerva, the trigger-guard with a central female portrait bust, pierced and chased apron at the barrel tang, pierced and chased escutcheon with female portrait bust and two putti above, sliding patch-box cover with gilt-brass mounts, applied cast and chased gilt-brass caryatid on the toe of the butt, cast and chased gilt-brass fore-end cap with integral ramrod-pipe, set trigger, and original ramrod (incomplete) with later tip, most of the external screws inlaid with gold (side-plate replaced)
29¾in. (75.6cm.) barrel
Literature
For further information on Meier see Hans Schedelmann, Die Wiener Büchsenmacher und Büchsenschäfter, pp. 14, 16, plates 20, 73-76, and Die Großen Büchsenmacher, pp. 203-5
