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LOT 3327
Exceptional Exhibition Quality Relief Chiseled, Gold and Silver Inlaid, and Relief Carved Rehbichler Superposed Barrel Swivel Breech Percussion Double Rifle - Serial no. 406, 48 cal., 27 1/2 inch octagon bbl., gold/silver/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This c. 1840-1860 percussion rifle is heavily decorated
on nearly all of the metal surfaces suggesting it was built for a special purpose. The barrels are matted and
engraved with dot and floral patterns, silver bands at the muzzles and breech ends, silver geometric and floral designs on the breech sections, a silver ibex on the rib on one side, and a ramrod on the other side.
One is signed “REHBICHLER IN MUNICH” in silver. The barrels are equipped with dovetailed blade and notch sights. The breech plugs are finely sculpted and engraved with floral and scroll patterns. They are freed for rotation by a trigger ahead of the trigger guard. The other metal fittings also have scroll and floral engraving. The upper tang features a gold sea serpent entwined with the scrolls and a gold boar in a panel scene. The back action lock has “REHBICHLER” in gold signed below the hammer, a gold mermaid or siren with serpentine tail on the hammer, and a gold stag in a wooded panel scene at the center of the plate, and the side plate
on the opposite side has a coordinating panel scene with a gold stag and is signed “IN MUNICH” in gold in a banner near the front and has a gold bird among the scrollwork above. The trigger guard has a detailed scene with a gold doe in water and a gold inlaid intertwined line on the scrolling tang and scroll engraving on the pointed rear finial. The highly figured stock has a checkered wrist with carved borders, a small patch box with a raised relief carved shell design on the front of the lid followed by scroll designs on a textured background, and casehardened plate with scroll and floral engraving and gold inlaid intertwined line; a large sculpted cheek rest on the left followed by a highly detailed relief carved scene with a pair of dogs taking down a great stag in the woods, an engraved sling stud, and casehardened buttplate with engraved tang, gold inlaid
intertwined lines, and “406” in gold inlay.