Small Children's Hunting Rifle With A Damascened Barrel, 19th Century

Small children’s hunting rifle with damascened barrel, 19th century.

A very rare and beautifully decorated small children’s hunting rifle, originally a flintlock but later converted to percussion. Its small size and rich decoration make it a particularly unusual and attractive piece for collectors.

The barrel is made of oriental damascened steel, finely chiseled and richly damascened with gold and silver. On the upper part of the barrel is an oriental inscription executed in gold. The barrel is 33 cm long and has a caliber of 14 mm. The breech was added and fitted with a percussion chamber, evidence of the later conversion from the flintlock system to the percussion system.

The lock plate is engraved with a delicate foliage design and a bird motif. The iron fittings are cut and understated, creating a subtle contrast with the richly ornamented barrel.

The stock is made of walnut and features a cheek piece. The grip is finely checkered and ends with a carved bust of a bearded man, lending the piece a particularly distinctive sculptural detail.

Origin:
Europe, with an Oriental damask steel barrel.

Period:
19th century.

Type:
Small children’s hunting rifle, originally flintlock, converted to percussion.

Material:
Walnut wood, damascened steel barrel, iron fittings, gold and silver decoration.

Technique:
Forging, chiseling, gold and silver damascening, engraving, wood carving, checkering on the grip.

Decoration:
Barrel damascened with gold and silver featuring an oriental inscription in gold; trigger guard engraved with foliage and a bird motif; sculpted bust of a bearded man at the end of the grip.

Dimensions:
Total length: 75 cm.
Barrel length: 33 cm.
Caliber: 14 mm.


Condition:
Age-related wear, patina, and surface marks. The rifle was originally flintlock and was later converted to percussion. The condition is shown in the photographs.

SKU: С1340