High quality 19th Century percussion hunting Jaeger rifle. This Jaeger rifle has a bright-finished octagon barrel, back action lock and double set-triggers. The wedge fastened stock is highly figured European walnut with carved cheekpiece and checkered panels on the wrist and forearm. The rifle is fitted with a sling swivel on the forearm and engraved steel sling on the buttstock. The forearm tip is bone. The trigger guard has a relief-carved bone extension that terminates in a highly detailed bear's head. The barrel is fitted with a hood front sight and fixed rear sight. The barrel tang has a mount for a folding rear sight. The rifle is fitted with a brass tipped wooden ramrod secured by two fluted steel ramrod pipes. The top barrel flat is engraved with the maker's name: "W. MASCHECK IN WEIN" and the right side of the lock is engraved "F FRUWIRTH". The hammer, bolster, lock plate, side plate, trigger guard, buttplate and patch box are fully engraved with highly detailed scrollwork and European game animals. The lock plate is engraved with a fox taking a partridge, an eagle is engraved on the upper tang, the side plate has an engraved panel with two dear and a hound, a mountain goat is engraved on the bottom of the trigger guard and the patch box features a bear surrounded by a gold inlay. A small silver shield is inlaid in the checkered panel of the forearm which is engraved with a highly detailed family crest. The patch box contains a brass powder measure with engraved, acorn-shaped tip and sliding scale. This is a high quality hunting rifle made for a member the nobility in the first half of the 19th century.

Very good. The rifle has been lightly cleaned; metal surfaces are bright. The rifle shows minimal firing wear. The engraved scroll-work and game animals are sharp. The stock has scattered shallow dents and handling marks but remains in very good condition. The checkered panels are sharp. The highly detailed, relief-carved, bone, bear's head trigger guard extension is in fine condition. This is a very good example of a high quality percussion Jaeger rifle.