A FINE AND RARE OVAL-BORE RUSSIAN FLINTLOCK SPORTING GUN IN THE MANNER OF JOSEPH GRIFFIN OF LONDON

A FINE AND RARE OVAL-BORE RUSSIAN FLINTLOCK SPORTING GUN IN THE MANNER OF JOSEPH GRIFFIN OF LONDON
By Ivan Permjakov, St. Petersburg, circa 1770
With etched twist three-stage barrel inlaid with gold transverse lines at the muzzle and intersections, signed in gold cyrillic letters within a gold-encrusted ribbon, and decorated on the breech section with gold-encrusted rococo ornament involving a sporting trophy and lines of flower-heads in a trellis pattern, the rear of the breech finely chiselled in relief with a rocaille picked out with gold lines, chiselled and gilt tang incorporating the raised back-sight, rounded lock signed in gold cyrillic letters (minor losses) within trails of gold-encrusted flowers and foliage and gold lines, the tail, cock, pan and steel also with gold-encrusted decoration, the pan with water-drains and of oval form matched by a recess in the base of the steel, moulded figured walnut full stock carved in relief around the barrel tang and the rear ramrod-pipe, full parcel-gilt silver mounts finely cast and chased with flowers and foliage in relief and engraved with trophies, finely pierced side-plate centred on a vacant escutcheon, the trigger-guard with floral and foliate finial, blued trigger-plate, three engraved parcel-gilt silver ramrod-pipes, horn fore-end cap, and original horn-tipped oval ramrod, the side of the butt stamped with armoury number 'No 30' (top of cock an old replacement)
35¼in. (80.5cm.) barrel