A 28 BORE GERMAN (RHINELAND) FLINTLOCK SPORTING RIFLED CARBINE BY HESS A DEUX PONTS, CIRCA 1740 w

A 28 BORE GERMAN (RHINELAND) FLINTLOCK SPORTING RIFLED CARBINE BY HESS A DEUX PONTS, CIRCA 1740 with blued swamped two-stage barrel, fitted with silver barleycorn fore-sight, chiselled girdle, stamped with two gold-lined barrelsmith`s marks over the breech, the letter `A` crowned above the word `in` and a mullet, the tang numbered `2`, stepped bolted lock (the bolt incomplete), engraved with rococo designs including sprays of foliage and shell ornament, signed on two scrolls on a gilt matted ground, the cock, top-jaw and steel en suite, figured walnut full stock, moulded over the fore-end, carved with rococo scrolls behind the tang, scrolls, foliage and a shell behind the ramrod-pipe, slightly curved butt with carved cheek-piece on the left and patchbox with sliding cover on the right, engraved steel mounts comprising stepped solid side-plate, trigger-guard, butt-plate decorated with a trophy-of-hunting, saddle bar with ring, three ramrod-pipes, and sling swivel (the rear sling swivel missing), horn fore-end cap (chipped), and original horn-tipped wooden ramrod 73.7cm; 29in barrel C. Hess is recorded in Zweibrüken (Deux-Ponts), circa 1720-80.