Manufactured circa 1880-1890. Browned twist barrels inlaid with a gold band at each breech end, right tube rifled, left tube smoothbore for ball or shot, raised rib with ramp-mounted front sight, blued adjustable standing rear sight and with gold-inlaid signature "RIEGER IN MÜNCHEN" and a spray of scrollwork at the breech. Action with percussion fences, safety stops for the hammers and underlever with partial dark horn cover. Back action locks, front set trigger and scrolled flat fronted trigger guard with scrolled wood pistol grip finger-rest. Figured 13 ¾ inch walnut stock with checkered grip and permanently attached forend, raised cheekpiece carved with a running roe deer in a wooded landscape behind, steel buttplate engraved with the serial number on the tang, rear iron sling button and front sling loop. Deep scroll engraving against a matte background throughout. Weight is 8 lbs. 14 oz. This gun bears the German crowned "V" Vorratszeichen mark denoting pre-1891 manufacture and formed part of a stand of near identical sporting arms supplied by Rieger. A set of 30 inch browned twist 16-bore barrels for a different gun from this series of Rieger arms is included in this lot, with raised rib with bead front-sight, inlaid with a gold band and gold spray of scrollwork at the breech end and signed "RIEGER IN MÜNCHEN" in gold. Provenance: Property of a German Prince, great, great grandchild of Emperor Franz Josef I, Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary.

Very good. The barrels retain traces of the original browned finish in sheltered areas and the remainder is discolored and with shallow surface corrosion marking. The rear sight retains a strong 80% original blued finish. The action has clear engraving throughout with similar levels of surface corrosion marking to the barrels. One hammer is lacking its retaining screw. The front trigger mechanism sets correctly. The carving to the butt is clear with some wear to the high points, and the remainder of the stock has numerous storage and handling markings and some small chips to the edges of the forend wood. The spare barrels retaining 90% original browned finish with some handling wear and scattered surface corrosion marking.