Manufactured circa 1885-1890. With blued swamped barrel fitted with a blued bead front sight. The breech end of the barrel bright and engraved in low relief with panels of foliage against a stippled ground and fitted with a fixed blued rear sight. The bright action engraved with further panels foliage against a stippled ground framing vignettes chiseled in low relief depicting a boar set upon by hounds on the top flat, rutting stags in a woodland landscape on the right side and a stag surrounded by hounds on the left side. This last vignette has been signed by the engraver "SCHEICHER GRAV. BUDWEIS". A hinged plate that lowers with the breech block to form a loading channel is engraved with further scrolling foliage inhabited by a mythical winged monster. The push forward underlever and trigger plate are each engraved en suite with further foliage. A single trigger with a very long pull is fitted and there is a pierced scrolled light horn finger rest behind the trigger guard. Figured 14 inch half stock with raised cheekpiece and checkered grip and forearm. The butt is fitted with a heel plate engraved en suite with the action. Two iron sling mounts and a contemporary brown leather sling. Provenance: Property of a German Prince, the great, great grandchild of Emperor Franz Josef I, Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary.

Barrel retaining much blued finish which is beginning to fade to a plum color. Action is bright with no obvious discoloration and retains wonderfully crisp engraving. The refinished stock has minor age related storage and handling blemishes. Butt apparently constructed in two parts, joined through the checkering on the grip. The join does not appear to be as a result of damage but rather deliberately incorporated into the original construction. This peculiar stock construction coupled with the extraordinary mechanism suggests this may have been an experimental piece, although the level of engraved finish is remarkably high if this is the case. Mechanically functions, but sticks slightly unless you push the extractor forward to release lever.