A Fine 16 Bore German Flintlock Sporting Gun by Johann Weis (Weiss) A Zella, Circa 1735, ex Keith Neal Collection. 

With heavy swamped barrel in two stages divided by a turned girdle and with blade fore-sight and ring back-sight each of silver, the octagonal breech section engraved in front of the back-sight with a panel of silver-covered symmetrical strapwork and foliage, and inlaid behind the back-sight with a rectangular silver plaque engraved with the maker's signature in front of three silver-lined maker's stamps, at the rear of the barrel an inlaid broad engraved silver band, brass-lined touch-hole, tang engraved with strapwork, large flat lock with moulded border finely engraved with a scene of the chase in a landscape involving sportsmen in pursuit of a stag and a boar, the stepped tail with a mother bear and her young, engraved bevelled cock, faceted pan, cock-jaws and steel, moulded figured walnut full stock (minor bruises) finely carved in relief with strapwork and foliage, finely engraved partly chiselled steel mounts, the tang of the butt-plate decorated with a sportsman, dogs and game within borders of régence strapwork, the shaped bevelled side-plate with a boar-hunt in a landscape involving an archer and another sportsman impaling the boar with a spear, bevelled trigger-guard with a standing sportsman on the bow and with foliate finial, large escutcheon of chiselled steel decorated in relief with elaborate scrollwork enclosing a grotesque mask, three turned and faceted steel ramrod-pipes, steel sling mounts, horn fore-end cap, and original horn-tipped ramrod, in fine little-used condition throughout.

Notes:

This gun was sold at Bonhams sale ‘Fine Antique Firearms from the W. Keith Neal Collection’ 10th November 2005. Lot 55 and sold for £11,400. 

Dimensions:

Bore: 16 Bore

Barrel Length: 39.5 Inches (100.40 cm)

Overall Length: