Nearly every metal components of this short hunting rifle by Johann Adam Knod (1690-1751) of Carlsbad (Karlovy Vary), Bohemia, in the first half of the 18th century is engraved and gilded brass. The exceptions are the necessary components of the lock (cock, frizzen, springs, etc.), the rear sight, the screws, and the trigger. Knod was first active around 1708 to 1717 in Vienna and was granted the title of master gunmaker in 1719. He is known to have built pairs of high end hunting carbines with nearly identical stock carving and extensive engraving depicting various hunting scenes. He was one of the most talented Carlsbad school arms makers catering to the nobility who visited the Bohemian spa town of Carlsbad to "take the waters" while on Grand Tour. The engraving, gilded furniture, and carved stocks of the Carlsbad school was certainly among the finest in all of Europe. In 1740, Archduchess Maria Theresa (1717-1780) became the Queen of Bohemia and the ruler of several surrounding states when she ascended to the Hapsburg throne. Though she married and had male heirs, she remained the leading figure in the Holy Roman Empire until her death. She is known to have accompanied several hunting parties with her father and husband and was fond of archery. While hunting is generally thought to have been a recreation for elite men, women of high birth also participated in hunts and are portrayed during so in artwork from around Europe. The primary female figure in the engraving patterns is likely meant to represent the empress, and given the approximate date of manufacture and the short 12 inch length of pull, the carbine was likely built for a female or adolescent member of the Hapsburg court. The top barrel flat is engraved "IOHANN ADAM KNOD IN CARLSBAD." The breech end of the barrel is chiseled with auricular scrolls as well as a woman sitting in a chair with a dog lying next to her and a woman's face, and ahead of the rear sight is an area of scroll surrounding the same woman's face. The left side plate has a chiseled wooded hunting scene with hunters chasing and shooting deer with the help of their dogs. The lock has two seated women (one appears to be holding a gun), a putto, hounds, and dead game. The side of the hammer and the frizzen are decorated with auricular scroll. The trigger guard, decorative finial, ramrod finial, forend cap and patch box are chiseled with the same auricular scroll designs. A portrait of a woman is engraved on the trigger guard bow among the scrollwork. The buttplate tang has a Greco-Roman warrior figure, likely representing Athena, sitting on a pedestal under a dome over crossed flags, auricular scroll, and a grotesque face. The buttplate has scroll around the screw and "NO 1". The thumbplate has crowned head up top, a bust at center, and the double headed eagle (Reichsadler) widely used as a symbol of the Hapsburg dynast, Holy Roman Empire, and various Germanic states. The auricular scroll patterns are attributed to Johann Smischek, a Prague engraver of the early 17th century whose pattern book was re-issued and used in the early 18th century. It is mounted on a full straight grip walnut stock with raised relief scroll carving and includes a wooden ramrod with matching engraved and gilded brass tip on the front and a plain iron tip on the rear.

Exceptionally fine. The carbine retains 85% plus of the original gilding. The stock is also very fine with some minor pressure dents and dings. The lock is mechanically excellent. This high quality carbine is an extraordinary example of the highly decorated firearms for which Carlsbad was famous.