Manufactured circa 1880-1885. This is a very rare example of an early bolt action sporting rifle made by arguably the finest German makers of the period. The octagonal barrel is engraved with a band of foliage at the muzzle and has a slightly raised matt top flat with ramp mounted blade front sight and blued adjustable standing rear sight. The casehardened border and scroll engraved octagonal receiver is signed "MILLER & VAL. GREISS/MÜNCHEN" on the sidewall, bolt with flag safety, receiver tang fitted with a sprung aperture rear sight, casehardened trigger plate, double set triggers, figured 13 ½ inch half stock with checkered sliding patch box cover with push-button release, raised cheekpiece, checkered grip and scrolled wood pistol grip trigger guard, bright steel buttplate engraved with diamond shaped checkering (the center of each diamond with a dot), sling mounts, and original brass tipped wooden cleaning rod. Weight is 7 lbs. 6.8 oz. This gun bears the German crowned "V" Vorratszeichen mark denoting pre-1891 manufacture. Provenance: Property of a German Prince, great, great grandchild of Emperor Franz Josef I, Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary.

Excellent. The rifle retains 95% of original blue finish with some scattered blemishes from spots of surface corrosion. The receiver retains 90% original casehardened finish with a small patch of light surface corrosion on one flat and clear sharp engraving throughout. The stock is good with numerous small storage and handling marks and checkering remains sharp. The trigger mechanism sets correctly.