Per the included copy of the "Certificate of Provenance and Authenticity" this shotgun was among the items passed down through the family of Frederick Dent Grant to his direct descendent John G. Griffiths. It is listed as sold by Griffiths in early 2020 and identified as an "Austrian Double Barrel external hammers shotgun marked 'Joh. Petermann Wien', with Family plaque 'Gen. F.D. Grant/1892." Frederick Dent Grant (1850-1912) was the eldest son of Union general and U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant and was a West Point graduate and military officer in the West in the late 19th century. He was appointed by President Benjamin Harrison to serve as minister to Austria-Hungary in 1889 and served in that role until June of 1893. His official title was "Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary." Given the shotgun is Austrian and has an 1892 dated plaque, it was probably presented to or purchased by Grant while based in Vienna. After returning to the U.S., Grant was a police commissioner in New York City alongside the reform minded Theodore Roosevelt, and both men went on to serve in the Spanish-American War. Grant then went on to the Philippines where he became U.S. Military Governor of Pampanga from 1899 to 1900 and then returned to the U.S. were he remained one of the highest ranking officers until his death in 1912. The shotgun has Damascus pattern barrels with approximately full and extra full chokes, 2 1/2 inch chambers, extractors, a nickel bead front sight, "JOH. PETERMANN WIEN" on top of the left barrel at the breech, "I. GOLDSCHMIEDGASSE, I" (a historical district in the Inner City) on top of the right barrel at the breech, and matte rib ending with a rosette on the extension. There are small "1" marks on several components, and the barrels have "17.2." bore marking. The locks are signed "PETERMANN" on the right and "IN WIEN" on the left behind the hammers, and the locks, frame, trigger guard, and small parts are engraved with primarily tight English style scroll engraving along with some nice borders and a few rosettes. The pistol grip stock and forearm are finely checkered, and the stock has carved spade accents at the tails of the locks, a checkered grip cap and buttplate, a nicely shaped cheek rest, 13 7/8 inch length of pull, and a silver plaque on the bottom inscribed "GEN. F.D. GRANT/1892." Sling swivels are fitted to the bottom of the barrel and the buttstock.

Very fine with 90% of the lightly fading original brown finish and Damascus patterns on the barrels, 90% of the original case colors, 80% original blue on the trigger guard and lever, crisp markings and engraving, light scratches, and minor overall wear. The forearm is fair and has chipping along the sides but otherwise crisp checkering and minor wear. The buttstock is very good and has minor scrapes in the otherwise checkering, nice figure, and some minor dings and scratches. The silver plaque has attractive aged patina. The horn cap is somewhat loose, and the horn buttplate has some insect holes. Mechanically excellent. This is very attractive shotgun that was passed down through the Grant family and dates to Frederick Grant Dent's time as U.S. Minister to Austria-Hungary in the late 19th century.