This fine sporting gun is unsigned but is of the distinctive Northern European style of the late 17th century with a heavy rounded butt and chiseled steel mounts and barrel. Notes from the Norman R. Blank Collection identified it as from the collection of the Dukes of Saxe-Weimar from Schloss Ettersburg suggesting that it was almost certainly purchased via W. Keith Neal. The smoothbore barrel has a rounded blade front sight flanked by engraved scrollwork, a long sighting flat, a chiseled classical figure with chiseled and engraved scrollwork at the breech, and a grooved iron tang with foliate and border engraving. The rounded downturned lock has a chiseled figure at the center, scroll patterns and decorative borders. The steel mounts are decorated en suite, with the pierced scrolling side-plate inhabited by bestial motifs and a figure, and the heel-plate including a mask design and a long serpentine tang of Simonin type. The full-stock features molding and relief scroll carving. With a replacement wooden ramrod with steel tip. Provenance: The Grand Dukes of Saxe-Weimar; The Norman R. Blank Collection

Fine with attractive silver-gray patina overall, some faint pitting, and crisp designs. The wood is also fine and has distinct carving and molding, minor age and storage related marks and dings, edge wear, chips and cracks around the heel-plate, tang and lock, and faint filled cracks mainly on the left flat of the butt. Mechanically fine. Opportunities to acquire fine Northern European sporting guns with such provenance are very rare!