Chretien Koerber (also spelled Christian Körber) was a court gunmaker to the Prince zu Hohenlohe as well as the Duke of Württemberg from the mid to late 18th century based in the town of Ingelfingen on the Kocher River in what is the present day German state of Baden-Württemberg. This ornate gun was likely produced for the Prince, Duke, or a respected member of their courts. The rib is marked in silver inlay with "CHRETIEN KOERBER" behind the rear sight and "A INGELFINGEN" ahead of the rear sight. "CANON" is inlaid on the left 28 gauge smoothbore barrel and "TORDA" is on the right .55 caliber rifled barrel; both are ahead of the rear sight and are inlaid gold. The barrels also have extensive silver inlaid floral vines along with silver bands and crosses at the breech and a post front sight is fitted into an "X" base at the front and a notch sight on a German silver base with scroll finials is fitted towards the rear. The touchholes are gold lined. There are a pair of British "crown/V" proofs at the breech end. The slender locks and goose neck cocks are smooth and unmarked. It is mounted on an elegant burled walnut stock with extensive scroll inlays; detailed checkering patterns on the wrist; scroll style carved accents around the locks, breech, and ramrod entry pipe; "D" marked initial plate on the upper wrist; raised cheekpiece with a reposed elk in a woodland scene to the rear and an animal head in scrollwork ahead of it; a swivel at the forend and sling stud on the bottom of the stock; wooden patch box with inlays and engraved cap; and a flat buttplate with engraved tang. The trigger guard is engraved and has a walnut pistol grip extension. There are Germanic pearl and horn starburst emblems on the patch box and cheekpiece.

Very fine. The barrel group retains 80% of the bright polished blue finish and 98% plus of the gold inlay with some patches of oxidation. Nearly all, if not all, of the silver inlay on the barrels and stock remain with some lightly aged patina. The locks have some light patina and function excellently though the upper jaw of each lock is absent. The stock is very good with faint evidence of some repairs that appear to have been executed in the period and otherwise only minor handling and storage type wear. This is an exceptional piece of late Enlightenment craftsmanship with ties to Germanic nobility.