With octagonal damascus barrel signed “JOSEPH HARKOM. 32 PRINCES STREET. EDINBURGH” on the top flat towards the breech and fitted with blued bead front sight and blued rear sight of one standing and four folding leaves each with gold inlaid center line and graduated to “300” yards. Recessed casehardened patent breech with platinum plug engraved with a tiger’s head bordered by two finely engraved feather pattern bands. The underside of the barrel and breech struck with London proof marks. Finely scroll engraved casehardened standing breech and detented lock, the latter signed “HARKOM”, fitted with a blued safety bolt in front of the hammer and engraved with three deer in a parkland landscape. Finely figured walnut pistolgrip half stock with raised cheekpiece, checkered grip and forearm, dark horn forearm cap, gold shield shaped escutcheon to the wrist engraved with a crest and initials, and sling eye to the underside of the butt, the corresponding sling eye fitted beneath the central ramrod pipe. Iron mounts engraved en suite including trigger guard with a panel scene involving hounds chasing a stag on the bow, hinged pistolgrip trap cover engraved with a rosette, and blued butt plate with a recumbent lion on the tang. Brass mounted rosewood ramrod with worm. In original mahogany fitted case lined in two tone tooled pigskin, the lid with small printed Joseph Harkom trade label, and a comprehensive suite of accessories including fine leather covered Sykes brass topped powder flask, Sykes circular brass percussion cap dispenser, a hardwood loading mallet, two iron mold, one for a bullet stamped “J. HARKOM”, the other for ball and marked “IMPROVED NO. 26”, and numerous turnscrews, tools and pots. The exterior of the lid with large circular brass escutcheon engraved with the same crest as the wrist escutcheon. With leather outer.

This wonderfully complete set features a barrel retaining 95% slightly faded older rebrowned finish with attractive twist pattern and crisp signature, some rubbing to finish along edges of the barrel, occasional corrosion marks visible beneath finish, and under-rib which has been refitted to the underside of barrel and is not sitting completely flush. The breech retaining 90% original casehardened finish, stronger on the underside, and with sharp engraving. Standing breech and lock with very fine engraving and each retaining 40% fading original casehardened finish. Trigger plate and trigger guard each with similar fine engraving, the trigger plate retaining 50% strong original casehardened finish, the trigger guard with traces of original blued finish, the remainder with a grey patina. Butt plate retaining 70% original bright blued finish. Stock with well defined checkering, attractive figure, and minor handling and storage marks with some deeper marks within the checkering on the forearm. Mechanically excellent. The case is in excellent condition with minimal external wear marks. The lining as some mostly minor age related staining and rubbing from the rifle and accessories, the interior of the lid with worn patches from contact with the sights. The mahogany edge liner with old chip to the right front corner. Leather outer with numerous age related storage and handling marks, the open end restored with new leather and buckles, outer straps missing. Overall a fabulous condition cased set of superlative quality by arguably the most talented of the 19th century Scottish gunmakers. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.