Established in 1717 by Louis Pigny, the venerable House of Le Page crafted fine sporting arms for kings, princes, nobles, and even supplied arms to revolutionary protestors in 1789 and 1830. The business remained within a single family from the time of its founding until 1913. This fine representative example features a single bead sight on the concave rib with a full 12 1/2 inch section of deeply chiseled scroll engraving and the marking "MOUTIER LE PAGE ARQer DU ROIS ET DES PRINCES" placing its manufacture in the period of 1842 to the late 1860s. The chamber areas are engraved with matching deep scroll with platinum filled vent holes. The underside of the barrels are each marked with a "crown/LB/star" proof and "N333" on the right and "A. 1844" on the left. The number "333" is repeated on the barrel lugs and the receiver face. The locks are engraved with fine leafy scroll with gold inlaid scenes of a fox chasing a goose on the right and a boar on the left. Each lock is inscribed "LEPAGE MOUTIER ARQer DU ROI". The top of the receiver is similarly engraved with a gold inlaid eagle, and the long tang trigger guard is engraved with a gold inlaid deer being pursued by two hounds. One piece, wedge fastened walnut stock with engraved fittings, fancy bordered broad checkering, and niter blue engraved buttplate with small nipple trap, and gold inlaid bird. Includes ebony ramrod with brass end pieces.

Very fine. The barrels have an overall smooth gray patina with some brown spotting, distinct markings, faintly visible Damascus patterning, small dings and nicks, and some areas of what appears to old varnish. The locks and receiver have an overall bright patina with some light spotting, complete gold inlays, and well-defined engraving. The trigger guard has a mix of faded niter blue, some light oxidation, and brown patina, as does the buttplate. The left wedge escutcheon is cracked in several places. The very fine stock has moderate chipping around the edges of the forend, small dings throughout, and well-defined checkering. An extraordinary example from one of the best known names in French arms production.