This is a magnificent rifle from the great Munich makers Miller & Val. Greiss and has survived in remarkably fresh condition. Manufactured circa 1891. Blued fluted barrel inlaid with gold and silver foliage at the muzzle and breech, raised wide matte sighting flat with casehardened bead front sight with protective wings and gold and silver-inlaid "MILLER & VAL. GREISS IN MÜNCHEN" signature. Further gold and silver-inlaid foliage and a silver-inlaid figure of a huntsman holding a boar spear. Bright action finely chiseled in low relief with panels of scrollwork against a blackened ground. The principle side panels involve putti and on the right side a bearded gentleman in 16th century attire holding a matchlock target rifle over his right shoulder. The upper tang is fitted with the original casehardened aperture rear sight. Blued breechblock hinge pin, underlever engraved en suite with the action and forming a scrolled pistol grip trigger guard, casehardened trigger plate with double set triggers, well-figured 13 ½ inch walnut half-stock with checkered panels to the grip and forend, profusely carved in low relief with scrollwork, left side of the butt behind the raised cheekpiece inhabited by a capercaillie, and bright hooked buttplate engraved en suite with the action and struck with the serial number "72." Weight is 11 lbs. 3.4 oz. This gun bears the German crowned "V" Vorratszeichen mark (on the side of the falling block) denoting pre-1891 manufacture and a voluntary proofmark denoting compliance with the German 1891 Proof Act (proved at 7.5mm but measuring 7.9mm, chambered for a rimmed cartridge). Provenance: Property of a German Prince, great, great grandchild of Emperor Franz Josef I, Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary.

Extremely fine. The barrel retains 97% blue finish with some rubbing to the edges of the fluting and around the muzzle. The gold and silver inlay remains almost complete with some minor loss. The each sight retains 95% bold casehardened finish. The action remains bright with some minor rubbing to exposed edges, and the chiselled ornament is generally in fine condition. The stock is fine with sharp carved ornament and only some very minor scattered storage and handling marks.