A hunting/target rifle of this same pattern, possibly this exact rifle, is featured in plate 123 in "California Gunsmiths 1846-1900" by Lawrence P. Shelton who wrote that John Christian Eberhart Klepzig (1817-1878) was born in Norway and worked in New York before coming to California during the gold rush. He was a gunmaker in San Francisco by 1852 and originally was partnered with Charles Bauer, and then as J. C. E. Klepzig & Co. by 1856 and was a regular exhibitor at the San Francisco Mechanics Fair. He was a known maker of rifles and Henry Deringer style pocket pistols and committed suicide with a pair of pistols possibly due to financial distress. This rifle's heavy barrel is turned round at the muzzle and marked "44" for use with a bullet starter and is equipped with a blade front sight and elevation adjustable rear sight. The breech plug is engraved on top and has a silver inlaid band. The upper left barrel flat is stamped "KLEPZIG/SAN FRANCISCO." The lock plate is marked "KLEPZIG." The rifle has adjustable double set triggers, German silver escutcheons, iron mounts (including a patchbox), a walnut half-stock with a checkered wrist and an oval shadowline cheekpiece. Numbered "2" internally.

Very good. The barrel, trigger guard, and lock plate have a smooth brown and gray patina overall. The stock is also very good with partially smoothed but visible checkering and some scattered dings and scratches. Mechanically fine.