Manufactured circa 1855. The side plate is marked "LEOPOLD" for Prince Leopold of Bavaria. Octagonal to round smoothbore sighted bright steel barrel, casehardened barrel tang with raised notch rear sight, casehardened flat lock signed "AMBERG" above a crown, figured walnut three quarter stock, iron mounts of regulation type including trigger guard, buttplate and side plate, three spring held iron barrel bands, iron sling mounts, iron ramrod, and socket bayonet with 12 ½ inch blade. A second of these miniature muskets with bayonet, identical to the present example with the exception of being marked for "LUDWIG" (the future Ludwig III of Bavaria and brother of Leopold), is preserved in the collections of the Bayerisches Armeemuseum (Inv. No. B 6021). The reason for the brothers being presented with miniature service musket has been lost in the mists of time. It is not inconceivable that the muskets were presented on the occasion of an official visit to the arsenal at Amberg when the brothers accompanied their father. The writer has been fortunate in being able to directly compare this musket to the example held in the Bayerisches Armeemuseum, and it appears both muskets were made by the same hand. Provenance: Property of a German Prince, great, great grandchild of Emperor Franz Josef I, Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary.