40. Fabulous German Vierling by H. Burgsmuller & Sohne of Kreiensen
serial #23280, 8x57R x 22 rf x 16 ga., 23 1/2" Krupp steel barrels show bright excellent bores and are date coded "539". This is a wonderful combination gun which exhibits exquisite deep relief engraving. The boxlock action features sideplates and is engraved in full coverage with the sides of actions featuring 19 different relief engraved animals. The left side shows two red deer stags with locked horns struggling as six females and another Stag look on. The detail is so fine that the distress can be seen on the faces of the on looking animals. This scene is set in a deep relied engraved forest setting. The right side shows a female roe deer protecting her fawn from an ensuing fox along with five ducks in various stages of flight and a male and female roe deer at front of action. The top and bottom of action feature full coverage oak leaf engraving. All of the engraving is superbly executed and shows excellent detail. The barrels are engraved with wedges at breech again in deep relief and a neat side hinged cartridge trap in toeline of butt is full coverage engraved with an auerhahn in center panel. The action is robust in design featuring sideclips, double underlugs and a Greener crossbolt. The safety lever is a three position lever with positions for safe, shotgun and rifle; an additional vertical switch on left side of action switches between centerfire and rimfire rifle barrels. The front trigger has an adjustable set and both triggers retain generous traces of original gold wash. The condition of the gun is very nice with the barrels retaining about 90% evenly thinning original blue finish. The action was finished in satin and now shows a pleasing mix of satin finish and gray patina. The top lever and safety retain most of their thinning original finish and the horn triggerguard rates excellent with no damage. The European walnut pistol grip buttstock and forend show lovely figure and are finely checkered with typical German flat cheekpiece which is round with a beautiful shadowline. The stocks rate excellent with 95% original finish remaining with most loss on belly of forend just ahead of action. The fluted pistol grip cap is of horn and the horn buttplate has a lovely carved basket weave checkering. The gun features sling swivels, beaded blade front sight and safety actuated rear rifle sight. This gun was featured in the Fall of 2008 Journal of the German Gun Collectors on page 25. A spectacular example of twentieth century German artistry in arms. (14478-6) {C&R} (10,000/15,000) SOLD FOR $13,800.00 |
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