Beschreibung:

A 27-BORE SOUTH GERMAN FLINTLOCK SPORTING RIFLE, CIRCA 1730 built on an earlier heavy octagonal barrel, cut with a series of decorative narrow bands at the breech and muzzle, the latter swamped and struck with the small letter "E" on its face, the breech signed and dated "Johan Wolf Petter in Oettingen 1693", struck with a mark (rubbed) and with lined vent and pierced chiselled back-sight, with plain detented lock with bevelled edges (the steel-spring broken), carved moulded figured walnut full stock, the butt flattened along its underside and the patch-box fitted with sliding cover, full brass mounts cast in low relief, inspired in part by the published designs of Claude Simonin comprising butt-plate decorated with scrolls and a demon mask framing a classical half-figure, solid side-plate decorated with a scrollwork design involving a winged and breasted monster in relief on a stippled ground, trigger-guard with pierced finial and cast with a further demon mask, three faceted ramrod-pipes and cartouche-shaped escutcheon filled with a classical bust, with horn fore-end cap, one sling-swivel, and wooden ramrod. 80cm; 31 ½ in barrel Claude Simonin published his series of designs for firearms in Paris in 1684, as a pattern book entitled "Plusiers Pieces Et Ornaments Darquebuzerie ….. etc.". Simonin's designs proved a strong influence among German gunmakers working in fashionable emulation of the Parisian Louis XIV style, from shortly after publication until about 1735. The original pierced version of the design for the side-plate on the present rifle appears on page 10 in an edition of 1692 and is reproduced in Grancsay 1970, p.81.