A 22-Bore Bohemian Flintlock Sporting Rifle

A 22-Bore Bohemian Flintlock Sporting Rifle
Circa 1730
Reconverted from percussion, with swamped octagonal barrel cut with seven grooves, blued iron fore-sight with brass blade and single-leaf gilt-brass back-sight with chiselled foliate finial, tang engraved with indistinct armoury(?) number, flat bevelled detented lock chiselled in low relief against a punched ground with a sportsman and his dog below the pan, and on the tail with a stag, all in a wooded landscape (detent defective), moulded lightly carved figured walnut full stock (small repair in front of lock), cheek-piece, gilt-brass mounts cast and chased in relief with strapwork and foliage involving huntsmen and scenes of the chase, one-piece escutcheon and apron to the barrel tang, bearing a later adjustable peep-sight, the trigger-guard with a female figure holding a crown, all against a fish-roe ground, faceted gilt-brass ramrod-pipes, set trigger, iron sling mounts, later horn fore-end cap, and later horn-tipped ramrod (some wear to gilding)
26¾in. (67.9cm.) barrel