610 bore diameter, 31.25" Tapered octagonal barrel, The heavy blued octagonal is inlaid with silver scrolls at breech and muzzle further inlaid with a silver foliage and a gold blossom at muzzle. The maker’s name, Jos sic. Gruber, is inlaid in gold script surrounded by gold flourishes. Gruber’s deeply sunken poincon bears his initials “JG” in gold relief. The breech tang finely engraved with foliage. Engraved folding rear sight and bronze front sight. The flat lock with enclosed wheel is finely engraved with scrolls throughout within a toothed border and engraved “En Wein” (Vienna). The finely formed hammer engraved ensuite. The brightly fire gilded mounts are all finely engraved with leaves, blossoms, and scrolling foliage. The sliding gilt bronze mounted matchbox is inlaid with silver wire and ebony surrounding the middle arabesque bronze inlay. The highly figured walnut fullstock is superbly relief carved and inlaid with silver wire around the bronze cheekpiece crest and the barrel pin escutcheons. The refinement of this particular wheel-lock rifle is exemplified by Gruber’s use of pierced finger release side nails rather than the usual slotted screws. Condition is excellent throughout, the lovely bronze mounts retaining most of the original bright fire gilding, the barrel with much original bluing, and the stock with most of its original finish. Altogether a superior example of a classic mid 18th century wheel-lock sporting rifle that is one of this well known maker's finest works. By Joseph Gruber In Vienna Circa 1745.