January 23rd 2016 Firearms Sale
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/22/2016
.60 bore at lands with 28-1/2" barrel. Offered is an exquisitely decorated German single shot percussion half stock sporting rifle. This rifle was manufactured by F.W. Moritz in Leipzig, Germany. Standard features of this rifle are full heavy octagon barrel with under lug and two thimbles, ivory tipped oak rod, deluxe European half stock, checkered wrist and forend percussion and double side lock. This is where the word 'standard' no longer carries any significance as this exquisitely crafted rifle literally leaves one breathless. It is difficult to actually describe the intricate amount of work that went into creating this masterpiece of gunsmithing during the middle era of the 19th century. Barrel retains pleasing brown-blue clean patina with some minor age freckling. It sports a wind-drift single blade front and rear sight. The breech has a platinum line with tulips with "F.W. Moritz" in gold. Moving forward of the rear sight, in gold, "Inglich Casting Steel.". There is engraving and platinum inlays around the front sight. The bore is like new with strong rifling and shiny lands. The flat crown has a decorative engraved border. It has a full solid under rib that contains the original oak rod with an ivory tip. This is retained by two thimbles. The rear thimble has a sling stud that is integral and the front thimble has a protective shield. The stock is a beautiful dark grain European wood that has the appearance of rosewood. The forearm has a 3-1/2" area of fine checkering that wraps around from side to side. There are two silver engraved escutcheons and wedge to retain barrel to stock. The wrist has a decorative checkered pattern on both sides. All of the checkering is present but there is some flattening of the diamonds from wear. There are no cracks anywhere and it retains the majority of the high gloss oil finish with some thinning in spots. The butt has an empty hole where the rear sling eye is missing with a small chip. The toe is a bit shy to plate with some darkening and minor wear. The right side of stock has an engraved patchbox in an unusual bullet shaped design that is fully engraved, including the screw, with platinum inlays of a King George slaying a dragon with a gold spear. The buttplate features a long top tang, which is fully engraved, and there is some engraving around the bottom screw. The balance of the plate is a freckled gun metal grey. Trigger guard features an engraved decorative tang forward of guard. Trigger guard is engraved to the back of the bow and has a vignette of a hunter with a rifle in a platinum border. The rear portion of trigger guard is unadorned and is a gun metal grey but does have a very intricate spiral or coil design. To the rear of the coil at the base of the tang, sports an engraved screw and some light engraving on the final teardrop. There is a decorative tang and forend cap that is engraved and is basically gun metal grey. The lock is unusual in that both sides have extended side plates and have dual percussion pans as if the action could have been used as the basis for a double rifle, or the hammer could have been applied on either side. The left pan and sideplate were not activated or utilized, so the pan has an engraved cap. The hammer is installed on the right side. The pan has the original nipple. The unusual safety catch is referred to as the patent of 1830 and engages the hammer. The top and face of hammer feature full engraving coverage. Top of the hammer is an engraved fish. The hammer stem is fully engraved and is diecut to the profile of a face and features the human eye, nose and mouth. The hammer retaining screw is engraved. Side plates have full coverage fine engraving. The front of the right side plate has the engraving of a mythical boar. Safety and screw are engraved, and in a small panel is "F.W. Moritz". The top of the receiver is fully engraved including screws and has platinum outlines with "Stabrow" in gold. There is a square hole that would allow a stemmed lollipop style rear sight. The left side plate, the one without hammer, features the same engraving with the mythical boar at face, with an interior engraving of a doe and a stag with the same platinum border and the city of manufacture within a scroll "In Leipzig". Adjustable double set triggers. All of the metal parts, aside from the barrel, are in a nickel-coin satin finish. This is a very detailed description but no amount of words could do justice to this incredible rifle, which rivals any custom gun makers product of that time or any other.