Manufactured c. 1730. This gun and the example in the following lot are very similar to another example owned by W. Keith Neal that was part of a garniture also including a pair of pistols and a rifle. See pages 134-135 of J.F. Hayward's "The Art of the Gunmaker, Vol. II." An April 1965 record indicates Norman R. Blank bought "of Keith [Neal] 1 gun by Gio Botti" for $2,000. This may also refer to the gun in the next lot. Notes from the Norman R. Blank Collection state: "W. Keith Neal tells me that only two of these guns have Cominazzo's signature on the barrel." This would be this example and the one from Neal's collection. The smoothbore barrel has a raised ring at the muzzle, a blade front sight, "LAZARINO COMINAZZO" signed on the fluted octagonal breech section, a plain tang with a folding notch rear sight, "Gio. Botti" signed rounded lock with non-bridled priming pan and tumbler, chiseled relief scroll and monster head designs in the classic Brescian tradition throughout, gilt-brass mounts, original ramrod with a gilt-brass tip, and full-length walnut stock with fine molding and relief and incised carving, including scrollwork accenting the cheekpiece. Two lead collection tags apparently for the Applied Arts School funded by the Grand Dukes of Saxe-Weimar are tied to the trigger guard, and the included certificate of weapon authenticity from F. Theodore Dexter notes the gun as "From the Saxe Wiemar Collection. Mint throughout and with outstanding ornamentation." The barrel channel is signed "K.N. 1915" (Karl Necke, Keeper of the Castle). The barrel tang and barrel channel are marked "86". Provenance: The Collection of the Dukes of Saxe-Weimar at Schloss Ettersburg; The W. Keith Neal Collection; The Norman R. Blank Collection

Very fine as refinished with mostly bright lock and barrel with some faint pitting and minor wear, bright gilt finish on the mounts, added front swivel, and crisp designs and markings. Aside from the crack on the left flat and some tiny chips, the stock is also very fine and has crisp carving and molding and general minor handling and storage marks. Mechanically fine. Overall a very attractive European sporting gun that will pair excellently with the following lot.