Originally procured by the consignor in Warsaw, Poland in 1956. Anton Vincent Lebeda (b.1795-d.1857) was a fine gunsmith and member of the most distinguished gunmaking family who operated out of Prague. Lebeda completed his training in 1813, worked a short time in Germany and Vienna with Franz or Johann Contriner and was known to have built fine guns for Kaiser Franz Josef I. He had two sons (Anton and Ferdinand) follow him into the trade. Single nickel bead on the broad rib, marked "A.V. Lebeda in Prag." in gold inside a decorative panel. Damascus twist barrels, with gold inlaid floral and key patterns at the breech. The frame is scroll engraved and gold accented on the front, back and underside, with a scene of a fox in the woods on the left and a deer on the right. The top strap is decorated with an escutcheon, showing a stand of flags and a crown on top of a shield, flanked by an armored knight and a two-tailed beast. Locks are Sauer marked, with the hammers gold scroll inlaid, decorated with carved-through sea serpents on the backs and gold eyed, large toothed fish on top. There is a scene of a hunter with a slung rifle seated in the woods on the left lock plate and a hunter and his dog coming upon a fox on the right. Silver trigger guard with fancy scroll designs at either end, hand rest, a scene of a bird attacking an animal and a dead bird on the underside with scroll and floral engraving. Checkered and carved stock, with raised scroll, leaf and grape patterns on the wrist, a right handed raised cheekpiece, a detailed carving on the left side of the butt of two wildcats, two birds and a snake in a woodland scene. The wrist design on the right extended down with floral designs and a bird perched on the scrollwork and a combination of scroll and floral carving on the right side of the butt with a grotesque face, pearl and ebony eyes, ivory teeth and contrasting hardwood tongue. Engraved silver buttplate with a gold highlighted scene of a perched bird on the comb.

Fine. The Damascus pattern is strong on the barrels, with evidence of a lost ramrod pipe on the underside and some mild handling marks. A smooth gray patina has formed on the frame and lock plates, with a contrasting dark color in the lower areas. Repaired stock, with replaced wood at the wrist, professionally extended buttstock, and some mild chipping and dings. The left hammer is stuck at half, and the right hammer is very good mechanically. Needs lower tang and action fitting work.