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Notably, a stalking rifle of Prince Friedrich Salm-Dyke’s is listed from the Schloss Dyck arms collection (see “Die Waffensammlung des Fürsten Salm-Reifferscheidt zu Schloss Dyck” by Max von Ehrenthal). We have previously sold other Morgenroth marked firearms made for other nobles, such as Alexander Charles, Duke of Anhalt-Bernburg. Little is known of Morgenroth whose first initial is sometimes found as “F” and appears to be Franz or Friedrich Morgenroth, but the various arms with their marking are very fine. Regardless of their original owner and maker, the pair was clearly built with extreme attention to their overall quality and was built as high end target pistols rather than dueling pistols given the finely adjustable sights. The finely patterned Damascus barrels have eight-groove rifling, dovetailed bead style blade front sights, extensive inlays in various metals (mainly multi-colored gold along with silver
and copper) in a variety of scroll and floral patterns, “Morgenroth in Gernrode” in gold Gothic script on top, and no proofs or other markings. The locks are also signed “MORGENROTH” around the rear of the hammers which are sculpted in the form of a Dacian Draco or similar dragon. There are rotating hammer stall safeties ahead of the hammers. The lock plates, counter plates, and complex breech plugs combine
to form an interesting serpentine monster design with a lion’s head possibly representing Chnoubis/Yaldabaoth so that when the pistols
are fired, the dragon smashed down onto the serpent. The locks and furniture are casehardened and have raised entwining scroll patterns in multi-colored metal like the barrel. The standing breeches have screw adjustable notch rear sights.
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