A 37-BORE BAVARIAN FLINTLOCK RIFLED SPORTING RIFLE BY JOHANN BUECHENBERGER IN LANDSBERG, CIRCA 1730 with signed octagonal sighted barrel swamped towards the muzzle, engraved with scrolls and linear bands at the breech and rifled with seven grooves (back-sight missing), bevelled lock signed with the maker's initials "J.BB." and engraved with a sportsman together with a deer pursued by hounds, figured walnut full stock carved with a series of decorative mouldings in low relief, including an acanthus design about the barrel tang and further acanthus flourishes framing the cheek-piece, fitted with carved sliding patch-box cover, full brass mounts cast in low relief, including side-plate decorated with a pierced Laub und Bandelwerk design involving trophies-of-war, trigger-guard with acanthus finials, three faceted ramrod-pipes and escutcheon formed as a scrollwork cartouche with coronet, fitted with horn fore-end cap, mounts for a sling, and horn-tipped wooden ramrod (the fore-end cracked on one side at the muzzle, the butt with very light inactive worm). 77.5cm; 30 ½ in barrel £1000-1500