This distinctive sporting gun dating from the mid-18th century has an elaborate Damascus smoothbore barrel in the Ottoman style with silver blade front sight, silver inlays and bands, an indistinct brass-lined maker's mark towards the breech, and steel tang. This form of barrel proved popular in Europe following the relief of the Siege of Vienna in 1683 with imitations of captured Ottoman barrels remaining fashionable into the mid-18th century. The flat beveled lock is signed "MAY/A/MANHEIM" beneath the faceted priming-pan and has a stepped tail. The mounts are brass with foliate finials including the heel-plate tang which is also engraved with the coat of arms of the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt. The burl half-stock has a horn forearm cap, fine molding, trefoil carving, and a large cheekpiece with fluted edge and scroll carved accents. It has an old collection tag that reads “Nr. 35 Steinschl. Gewehr a Nr. 635.” Associated horn-tipped ramrod. Notes from the Norman R. Blank Collection indicate this gun came from Jagdschloss Kranichstein and that W. Keith Neal purchased it through Hans Schedelmann on August 16, 1959. Jagdschloss Kranichstein had belonged to the Landgraves of Hesse-Darmstadt and Grand Dukes of Hesse. The last Grand Duke consolidated the arms collection at Jagdschloss Kranichstein in 1917. Provenance: The Landgraves of Hesse-Darmstadt and Grand Dukes of Hesse; The Norman R. Blank Collection

Very good with distinct signature, period refurbished top-jaw, jaw-screw and cock retaining screw. Attractively aged patina on the fine brass, gray and brown patina along with distinct Damascus patterns on the barrel, and dark aged patina on the barrel inlays with one silver band missing. The period working life shortened stock, with scattered age related storage marks and a few scattered cracks and chips. Mechanically excellent. Overall, a very interesting piece from the collection of the Landgraves of Hesse-Darmstadt and the Grand Dukes of Hesse.