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Elaborate Gold and Silver Inlaid, Engraved, Chiseled, and Carved Percussion Target Rifle by Josef Perger of Gratz - NSN, 45 cal., 30 3/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/gold/silver finish, walnut stock. This elaborate rifle was manufactured c. 1854-1860 by Josef Perger of Gratz, Austria. and is elaborately engraved with complex scrollwork framing various mythological figures, gold and silver inlaid, and fitted with chiseled furniture. The muzzle is turned down round for use with a starter. The barrel has “J Perger IN Gratz DER BUSITZER LONDON & MUNCHNER KUNST EHREN MEDAILE” across the upper flats at the breech in gold inlay along with gold and silver inlaid floral accents. The lock has “PERGER” in gold inlay at the rear, and the side plate has “IN GRATZ” in gold inlay at the rear. The textured Damascus barrel is equipped with an unusual combination blade and notch front sight and has no rear sight ,and the breechplug features a chiseled mask bolster with gold accents and a pierced chiseled scroll design on the left. An elevation and drift adjustable peep sight with a chiseled and pierced base is fitted
on the upper tang. The hammer is formed in the shape of a winged and horned grotesque or chimera with faceted glass eyes seated on a coiled snake with gold eyes. In addition to scroll and floral engraving with gold and silver inlaid accents, the engraving throughout features scenes of Roman gods and goddesses, each labeled. The lock features a youthful version of Bacchus seated on a scorpion with grapes and a goblet. The side plate features Europa and the bull. The finial for the double set trigger group features Diana with her bow and a dog. The left side of
the heavy Swiss buttplate has Amphitrite wielding a trident, and the right features Athena in armor with a spear and a shield marked “PALAS”, one of the epithets of Athena, possible related to her slaying of the giant Pallas and reportedly using his skin to form her aegis, and Hercules on the top flat. The toe of the buttplate features a pieced and chiseled scroll and floral design, and the buttplate is numbered “55”. The ramrod entry pipe and finger groove trigger guard are both finely sculpted and chiseled into bestial designs. The former has gold eyes, and the latter has faceted glass eyes.