This elaborately decorated target rifle, possibly chambered for the 11.15x42Rmm cartridge, was according to Henk Visser offered by King William III of the Netherlands as a shooting prize at Utrecht in 1869. Although previously published as a Cornish patent action (British patent no. 1828 of July 12, 1866), the action is marked “ADAMS’/PATENT/28” almost certainly referencing Robert Adams’ British patent no. 3216 of November 13, 1867, use number 28. The rifle is documented in G. de Vries and B.J. Martens, “The Visser Collection”, Vol. 1, Part 4, pp. 392-393, cat. no. 851. The barrel, action, back action lock and furniture all have a deep blue finish with silver inlaid scrolling foliage. The barrel is signed “Günther & Cie. a Paris” in Gothic script and has a block mounted front sight and a folding rear ladder sight, the latter engraved with scrollwork. The action is marked with the patent details on the left side and has a bright hinged breech block with actuates a cartridge extractor when fully opened. The hammer, trigger and cleaning rod are all bright burnished finish. The furniture includes a scrolled flat fronted trigger guard and a hooked heel plate. Liege black powder proof marks. In its original brass mounted mahogany case lined in dark green velvet, the lid signed “GÜNTHER & CIE./PARIS/46 BOUL.D DE STRASBOURG” in gilt lettering, and with some accessories comprising two gold washed brass bullet molds, a powder scoop with bone handle, a functioning case key, iron wad punch and a very large nickel oiler engraved with foliage. The exterior of the case lid with central brass plaque engraved with a crowned coat of arms with the motto “SEMPER IDEM” below, and to the sides “UTRECHT” and the date “1869”. Provenance: The H.L. Visser Collection; Property of a Gentleman