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LOT 1328
Ornate Exhibition Quality, Relief
Chiseled, Gold and Silver Inlaid, and Relief Carved I.D. Moritz Sohn of Leipzig Percussion Jaeger Rifle - Serial no.
872, 52 cal., 31 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/gold/silver finish, raised relief carved walnut stock. Multiple rifles in this same basic fashion from the mid-19th century are known signed by Johann Daniel Moritz and his son of the same name (signed “I.D. Moritz Sohn,” sohn meaning son in German). They come from a long line of gunmakers. The barrel is signed “I. D. MORITZ SOHN, IN LEIPZIG.” in gold inlay accented by gold and
silver inlaid borders and designs and has “ENGL:GUSS STAHL” inlaid in gold across the upper flats at the breech, blade and notch sights, floral pattern
on the muzzle face, and a scroll engraved double bolster patent breech with dragon/sea serpent style bolsters. The lock has a wolf/dog motif on the hammer with gold accented eyes and a pierced scroll design on the rear, entwining scroll engraving, a relief chiseled panel scene of a stag pursued by
a dog in a wooded scene, and scroll engraving on the pierced internal bridle. Coordinating scroll patterns and
highly detailed panel scenes are engraved on the furniture. The side plate on the left has three stags in a wooded
scene. The upper tang has a peep sight and a pair of deer in a wooded scene. The patch box has a scene of three deer in the woods. The other furniture is
mostly German silver and also includes primarily scroll pattern engraving along with some acorn and mask elements. The scrolling trigger guard has a gold
and silver scene of a hunter with a rifle leaning against a tree on the bow and encloses adjustable double set triggers. The rifle has the traditional sling swivel fitted on the forend and a sling
stud on the bottom of the butt. The stock has elaborate relief carved acanthus scroll patterns inhabited by a squirrel and bird on the right side of the butt and a highly detailed raised relief
carved woodland hunting scene of a hunter standing over a fallen stag blowing his hunting horn while his dog sits nearby. The buttplate has “No. 872” at the toe.
CONDITION: Fine with half of the original brown finish on the barrel, bright original gold, natural aged patina on the other inlays, mix of brown and silver-gray patina on the lock and patch box,
light aged patina on the German silver furniture, and general minor wear. The stock is good with light wear on some of the carving, some cracking mainly in the forend, minor scratches and pressure marks, and most of the glossy varnished finish. The lock hangs up on the half-cock notch; otherwise, the lock and set triggers are mechanically fine.
Estimate: 6,500 - 11,000
LOT 1329
Game Scene Engraved and Gold Inlaid Bohemian 16 Bore Sidelever Side by Side Hammer Shotgun by Mathias Mach of Prague - Serial no. 4100, 16 gauge, 29 7/8 inch solid rib bbl., blue/casehardened/gold finish, walnut
stock. “18” and “80” is marked around the forearm lug slot (likely the date of manufacture). The serial number is on the water table. The barrels have a bead front sight on the solid concave rib signed “M. Mach a Prague” in gold inlaid script and gold inlaid oak branch
patterns at the breech. The underside is marked with “PIEPER 2559” (twice), “LP,” and has the Liege provisional black powder proof and “17.0.” The action and rebounding locks
are casehardened and have gold accented oak branch engraving, a group of capercaillie in a naturalistic scene on the left lock which is signed “M. MACH” in gold below the hammer, a coordinating scene with pair of foxes and partridge on the right lock which has “V. PRAZE” on the right lock in gold inlay under
the oak engraved side lever, and checker board panels on the bottom. The
checkered Schnabel forearm is affixed to the action and has a push button
release on the tip. The buttstock has carved points, a checkered wrist and butt,
horn trigger guard with scroll designs, shallow checkered heel and toe plates,
and a sling swivel on the underside, and the front sling swivel is fitted on the
underside of the rib. Barrel and stock measurements (R/L): chambers measured at 3 inches; bore diameter 9 inches from the bore measured at .686/.685 inches; choke constriction .015/.0.033 inches; minimum wall thickness .029/.024 inches; 1 3/8 inch drop at comb; 2 1/4 inch drop at heel; 13 3/4 inch length of pull; weight 6 lbs 13 oz.
CONDITION: Very good with 75% of the original bright blue finish remaining and fading to smooth brown patina at the muzzle and breech areas, essentially all of the bright gold remaining, mix of aged original case colors and gray patina on the action, and mild overall wear. The wood is fine and has worn checkering and some flakes absent on the edges of the forearm, distinct checkering on the wrist and butt, mild scratches and dings, and mild overall wear. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
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