AUSTRIAN ROYAL QUALITY ENGRAVED GOLD INLAID PERC. 16 GA. O/U SHOTGUN BY MATHIAS NOWOTNY. in Huntsville, Alabama For Sale

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26? Damascus barrels signed in gold ?MATHIAS NOWOTNY IN WEIN?. Locks inlaid in gold banners ?NOWOTNY?. Gold inlaid ?GREEK KEY? bands at the breech of the barrels. Also gold bordering about the relief engraved cartouches on the barrel breech tang. One of the greatest of all European makers of the mid 19th Century, Mathias Nowotny of Vienna was maker to the Austrian Royal family and court. High relief chisel engraved and gold inlaid in the highest manner in Nautical and Royal motifs it may well have been commissioned as a Royal gift for a notable Naval figure of the day. This may have been Archduke Frederick credited with founding the modern Austrian Navy and Archduke Ferdinand, brother of the Emperor and Commander and Chief of the Navyduring the period. Right lock plate high relief engraved with a ?MERMAN? and the left with a ?MERMAID?. Bottom of the breech relief engraved with a figure of ?NEPTUNE? riding a sea serpent. The breech tang relief engraved and gold inlaid with a ?NEPTUNE? holding a trident. Additionally the relief engraved hammers feature a Nowotny?s Patent Safety System with lever mounted on the tang that actuates a pair of retractable bars preventing the cocked hammers from firing. Forward of the actuating lever on the tang is a beautiful gold bordered cartouche featuring a relief ?MERCURY? holding a gold banner inlaid ?PATENT?. Superb engraved trigger guard with gold bordered scene of two ?SEA BIRDS?. Barrel breech bolsters high relief resting ?LIONS?. Walnut cheek piece stock with checkered wrist. Rosewood ramrod and original sling swivels. Excellent condition overall with the exception of the partial loss of three of the gold letters of the barrel address and the right lock main spring which is missing. Barrels retain much original finish and the locks and engraving panels have much of the original dark grey coin finish. Exceptional and by one of the great Master Gunmakers of Europe.