This is a very historic example of a early prewar German Drilling with Hensoldt Wetzlar, 4 X scope as produced by the Krieghoff factory with a silver Luftwaffe presentation plaque on the right side of the stock, indicating presentation to Adolf Galland. The silver plaque is approximately 2 X 3 inches, and has a large Luftwaffe Eagle on the top of the plaque, which reads; "Fur Unser Befehlshaber von Gruppe III Staffel JG 26, 21 June 1940". This lot also has a signed letter, personally from Adolf Galland to the original owner, where he was inquiring about purchasing this specific drilling. In the letter he explains that this particular drilling was built by the Krieghoff factory and presented to him in August 1940, just prior to the "Battle of Britain" by the men of his unit, "I Gruppe, 3rd Staffel JG26. He goes on to say that throughout the war he carried his whole entourage of 35 guns with him whenever he moved from unit to unit and that he carried and used this drilling throughout the war on numerous hunting trips with his men. The drilling itself is fitted with 23 1/2 inch barrels, chambered 16 gauge over 8mm Mauser, it has the all blued barrels, with the rare Duraluminum receiver that features light engraving on the side and top of the receiver and the rear sections of each barrel. It is fitted with an excellent European walnut stock and handguard with hand cut checkering on the pistol grip and sides of the forend. Length of pull approximately 13 3/4". The top of the rib has been fitted with a set of double claw mounts that perfectly fit the scope. The top of the left barrel is marked, "SEMPER & KRIEGHOFF, SUHL" and the underside of the receiver is marked; "KRIEGHOFF, DRILLING, WALDSCHUTZ-DURAL". The underside of each shotgun barrel is marked "ROCHLING ELECTRO" and the right side of the rifle barrel is marked "KRUPP-LAUF". Adolf Galland was probably one of the best known and highest scoring German Aces during WWII, accredited with 104 confirmed kills during his career. He started his aviation career in 1927 when he took his first glider flight. He soon became a champion glider pilot and earned admission into the prestigious Lufthansa's pilot training center at Braunschweig. The pilot training he received at the Lufthansa center soon helped him receive admission into the fledging Luftwaffe flying corp. He flew his first combat missions in 1937 in the Spanish Civil war and eventually again in the early days of WWII during the invasion of the low lands, Poland, Czechoslovakia, France, the Battle of Britain and throughout Europe. At age 29 he was the youngest General in the German forces with sole responsibilities of Luftwaffe units in Norway, Russia, Eastern Europe, Italy and Africa. He remained on active flying status all the way to the end of the WWII flying his last missions in April 1945 in the very famous, first production jet, the Messerschmitt ME262. He was captured at the end of the war and was eventually released in 1947. After his release he went on to a very successful career as an Aviation consultant for the Argentine Reinforce and the post war German Air force. Also accompanying this lot are several pictures of General Galland on various hunting trips with his men, as well as a hardback copy of his authorized biography. The lot also includes two limited edition aviation prints, one by Trudgian and the second one by Dietz. The first one depicts a picture of an ME109 fighter in level flight with a picture of General Galland in the background with his distinctive cocked, peaked visor cap and short cigar. At the bottom of the picture there are three subset pictures of him and his dog, his "Knights Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds" and his distinctive Mickey Mouse insignia he had on all his aircraft during the war, along with his signature. The second picture is also a limited edition print, titled "The Warrior's Sword has Come to Rest", "General Der Jadgfleiger Adolf Galland", which depicts a Luftwaffe airdrome flag on top of his coffin, along with his visor cap, pictures of the General during the war, his flying goggles, and Luftwaffe dagger. General Galland died in Feb 1996.

Very fine with 96% of the blue finish on the barrels with 60% of the black anodized finish still remaining on the Duraluminum receiver, and rear of the trigger guard, with wear from carrying on his hunting trips. The scope also retains 99% of the pre-war blued finish. The stock and forend are both in excellent condition showing only minor handling marks with nice sharp checkering overall. It has matching numbers on the barrels, receiver and forend. Just an exceptional example of a "One of a Kind" WWII Krieghoff drilling rifle presented to Adolf Galland.