This fine example of an engraved Rieger marked percussion double rifle is equipped with a dovetailed blade front sight and two leaf (one folding, one stationary) rear sight on a smooth solid barrel rib. The breech end of the barrel rib is inscribed with a crown over a script "LL", gold inlaid "RIEGER IN MUNCHEN" and a 1 inch wedge of floral scroll engraving. The crown over a script "LL" is the royal monogram of King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Ludwig II was King of Bavaria from 1864 until 1886. Succeeded to the throne aged 18, Ludwig II was dethroned in 1886 after a team of experts declared him insane. The day after he was deposed the king and the psychiatrist who had declared him insane were found dead in Lake Starnberg. Today Ludwig II is well-regarded by many Bavarians with his legacy of architecture being many of Bavaria's important tourist attractions including Neuschwanstein Castle. Johan Rieger was an active gun maker in Munich from 1843 to 1855 and other examples of his works have carried the royal cypher for the Duke of Bavaria. The hammers, locks, trigger guard finial and forearm forend/ramrod pipe are decorated with a deep and beautifully executed floral vine engraving. The underside of the barrels are marked with a "*/L" and Liege proof, "9821" and "NB" (B partially visible). The heel of the buttplate is marked "2296". The rifle has Damascus pattern barrels, hammer safeties mounted on the locks, a wooden ramrod with brass tip and a sling swivel mounted on the middle ramrod pipe. Mounted with a wedge secured nicely figured walnut straight grip half stock featuring checking on the wrist and forearm. The stock has silver sun burst escutcheons, a very unique wooden trigger guard with grip extension, a cheekpiece, an iron buttplate and a sling swivel mounted on the underside of the buttstock. There is a very nice scene of a deer running through the woods carved into the left rear of the stock and a patch box with wooden lid on the right side. Length of pull is 13 3/4 inches.

Very fine. The barrels retain 75% original brown finish showing almost all of the Damascus pattern. There is some oxidation on the left barrel at the muzzle end. The remaining metal surfaces have a smooth gray patina and the escutcheons have an aged patina. The stock and trigger guard are both very fine with some scattered minor dents, dings and crisp checkering. All of the gold inlay remains and the engraving is crisp. Mechanically excellent.