The fluted octagonal barrel superbly gold inlaid for much of its length at breech and muzzle with elaborate and masterful patterns comprising bordered foliate designs. The back of the receiver marked with Swiss Retailer. The color hardened rear sight adjusts with finely pierced key, the front sight engraved and features an arrow inlaid in gold. The frame heavily inlaid with gold and relief chiseled at breech with a game bird on a branch. The right side of frame chiseled in relief with a herd of eight deer fleeing from a large and vicious eagle within a border of scrolling leaves gold sprays and line gold inlaid frame. The left side with relief chiseled scene of nine deer, two antlered stags and seven curious does in a wooded landscape framed by scrolling leafy foliage and gold inlaid sprays within a gold line border. Double set triggers. The forward portion of the lever finely pierced with scrolls, engraved on flats within gold inlaid lines and chiseled with a deer in relief in a landscape. The pierced tang of the lever inlaid in gold and engraved with a bust of a hunting dog. The underside of the frame, inlaid and bordered in gold with scrolls and chiseled in relief with a large and fierce eagle, its long sharp talons piercing deeply into a hapless antlered deer. The saddle of the frame inlaid with maker’s name in gold “J.U. BANZINGER IN ST (Saint) GALLEN”. The casehardened buttplate engraved with scrolling foliage and inlaid with gold lines. The highly figured walnut butt with cheekrest is carved in low relief and finely checkered. Fore-end finely carved and checkered ensuite with butt. An elaborate silver plaque on right side of butt with owner’s initials engraved. Sling swivels and original ramrod. A truly splendid high art Schuetzen rifle that eclipses in decoration and quality all others recently offered. If this were an 1886 Winchester a million dollars would not buy it. This rifle was retailed by a Swiss Dealer. Condition is excellent throughout. The barrel with nearly all its original finish and 100% of all gold inlay intact. Wood with most original finish and only very minor wear.