** Engraved Austrian Schuetzen Rifle by Franz Stepan of Wels

7.6mm. 31" octagonal barrel length. SN: 2052. Blued metal finish, case hardened buttplate, and bare finish frame that has gold inlay finish to engraved surfaces. Two piece walnut stock has heavy Tyrolean style carved cheek piece and Schnabel forend, with checkering to grip and forearm. Single shot falling block action "System Reform" schuetzen rifle with a 9" matted and lipped barrel flat most possibly for sight attachments. Item is without sights but features double sling swivels, double set triggers, and Bavarian-style triggerguard lever and buttplate. Frame is engraved with a Bavarian woman holding a rifle on left side, and a Bavarian man holding a rifle and drinking from a stein on right side. Frame and triggerguard are also engraved with black leaf scroll that has a gold finish to engraved surfaces. Other engravings include acanthus style scroll to heel of buttplate, black leaf to muzzle, and a barrel with simple arrow and black leaf pattern engraving just in front of frame. Markings to falling block include D.R.G.M. (German Empire Registered Design) to top, SYSTEM REFORM to left side, and imperial German proofs on right side. Barrel is marked FRANZ STEPAN on top right side barrel flat, and WELS to top left side barrel flat. 

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Condition
Good to very good. Bore is bright. Finish has some smudging toward muzzle. Finish possibly buffed at some point, barrel shows some tooling marks overall. Buttplate possibly refurbished, with a pinhole sized hole and scattered pitting. Frame shows some losses to gold finish toward front of receiver, and scattered pitting overall. Wood stock has light scratching and mars overall, with some losses around upper tang. Wood to metal fit around tang has very slight gapping. Action is functional.