Manufactured by N. Courard of Liege for Caron of Paris. Based on the case and barrel markings, this gun should have been manufactured around the 1870s. Caron was the gunmaker for Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte (President/Emperor Napoleon III) from 1848-1870. Caron retired around 1874, and Firmin is listed nearby at 10 Passage l'Opera in the 1870s. The smoothbore barrel has a bead style blade front sight, "Caron arqr a Paris" in gold inlay, silver inlaid and engraved scrollwork, a maker's mark on the left, "N. COURARD" on the lower left flat covered by the stock, and a notch rear sight. The other furniture has scroll engraving. The stock is relief carved with floral scrollwork. The case has a "BA" inscribed escutcheon surrounded by scrollwork on the lid, the French Second Empire coat of arms over "FIRMIN/SUCC.R DE CARON/ARQ.R DE S'M. L'EMPEREUR/20 PASSAGE L'OPERA/A PARIS" inside the lid, and contains a screwdriver, rods, and a key.

Very fine with 80% plus original blue finish on the barrel, light aged patina on the inlays, mostly bright remaining surfaces, minor marks and scratches, patches of mild surface oxidation, and light overall wear. The relief carved stock is excellent and has crisp carving, minor marks and dings, and light finish wear from handling and storage. Mechanically excellent. The case and accessories are all very fine with some updates and minor tears.