Manufactured circa 1870 and numbered "3" of a set. With browned damascus barrels with two gold inlaid lines at the breech and a raised flat rib signed "H. LEUE & TIMPE HOFBÜCHSENMACHER BERLIN" and fitted with a German silver bead front sight and blued fixed standing rear sight. Casehardened action and bar-in-wood side locks, the former engraved with the crowned monogram "F". Casehardened trigger plate with a set trigger for each lock, blued trigger guard and rotary under-lever, and pierced and scrolled dark horn finger rest. Well figured 14 1/4 inch stock with raised cheekpiece, checkered grip and permanently attached forearm. Blued steel butt plate and two iron sling mounts, and fine border and scroll engraving throughout.

Very Fine. Barrels retaining much original browned finish with crisp engraved signature to the rib. Some loss of finish and age related storage and handling rubbing to the large rear sight. The action and locks each with strong original case hardened finish and crisp engraving. Some age related storage and handling loss of bluing to the trigger guard, underlever and buttplate, engraving to each remains crisp. Stock has numerous mostly minor age related storage and handling marks and bruises, checkering remains well defined and sharp. Mechanically excellent.

As described in "A", numbered "4" of a set. Frederick was the only son of the German Emperor and King of Prussia Wilhelm I. When his father died on 9 March 1888, Frederick had been the German Crown Prince for 17 years and the Crown Prince of Prussia for 27 years. He titled himself, under advice from Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, Frederick III. The year 1888 was to become known as the Year of the Three Emperors as Frederick was suffering from throat cancer and his reign lasted only 99 days with the thrones passing to his eldest son Wilhelm.

Very Fine. Barrels retaining much original browned finish with some scattered patches of surface discoloration and crisp engraved signature to the rib. Some loss of finish and age related storage and handling rubbing to the large rear sight. The action and locks each with strong original casehardened finish and crisp engraving. Some age related storage and handling loss of bluing to the trigger guard, underlever and buttplate, engraving to each remains crisp. Stock has numerous age related storage and handling marks and bruises, checkering remains well defined and sharp. Mechanically excellent. Whilst potentially benefitting from some careful renovation work to the stocks, overall this is a fine pair of rifles that are not only of superb quality but also survive in remarkable original condition.