November 3-4, 2017 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/3/2017
Circa 1770. Octagonal rifled steel barrel with swamped muzzle and decorated with a series of inlaid silver bands and a panel of Cyrillic characters on top, near breech. Steel miquelet lock with engraved designs. Full length wood stock with extensive relief-carved designs and adorned with brass pins. Wonderfully carved roaring tiger head in the round, the butt of the relief carved stock being held in the tiger's jaws. Blue bead eye for the tiger.
Stock also carved with an ostrich, a shooting star and floral designs. Buttcap inlaid in the bottom of butt. Steel ramrod. Excellent condition, steel retains a cleaned grey patina, showing some wear, some barrel inlays are absent. Stock excellent with a few brass pins missing and a few light scattered marks. Overall length is 40-1/4". Obviously this was made for an Indian ruler to hunt tigers sitting atop elephants in their howdahs. A truly unique piece that displays very well! This item is from the collection of, described by, and authenticated by Herbert G. Ratner, Jr.