November 17 & 18, 2021 Extraordinary Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/17/2021
Morawek has cumulative working dates of 1754-1833 and worked in Jenikau as the gunmaker for the Prince of Auersperg between 1781 and 1791 before he moved to Krumau and was the court gunsmith for Joseph Schwarzenberg till Morawek's death in 1833. Octagonal barrel with diminutive bead front sight with silver "spider". Deeply impressed poincon at breech, referenced as 799 in Stockel, and surrounded by light foliate engraving. Tang is decorated en suite, and surrounded by relief carved florals. Full-length Jaeger stock holds the pin fastened barrel and has a horn cap. Horn tipped ramrod, probably the original, is retained by 2 faceted ferrules and feeds into a reinforced mouth faceted en suite. Channel has relief carved florals around mouth and fluted along length. Flint lock with gold touch hole, roller bearing frizzen, and swan neck cock, is signed "Ferdinand / Morawek" under the unbridled pan. Tail of lock is further marked "In Jenikau". Cock and lock decorated with floral engraved and lined borders. Wooden trigger guard with floral finial and made with brass strap. Simple fluted cheekpiece. Buttstock decorated with combination incised and relief carving of foliates and shows some very attractive burling towards butt. CONDITION: Very good to excellent, especially considering the condition of the piece. Barrel blue has darkened but shows evidence of what was once a bright almost fire blue at edges. Lock is very good with crisp engraving and some spotting. Stock is excellent, with crisp carving and some minor marks and pressure marks. Action works appropriately when cycled by hand, bore is excellent with strong rifling. This is an attractive rifle from a desirable maker. Accompanied by a plaque reading "HUNTING GUN / FERDINAND MORAWEK / GUNMAKER TO PRINCE SCHWARZENBERG / JENIKAU / 1740". EMW
Caliber/Bore
.60 Smoothbore
Manufacturer
Ferdinand Morawek