EXQUISITE Engraved & Carved Miller & Val. Greiss Schuetzen Martini Falling Block, 27 ¾ Single Shot Rifle, Double Set Triggers, Antique – 4.5mm Flobert

SOLD FOR: $1,905

LSB#: 150729JH28

Make: Miller & Val. Greiss, Munchen, Germany

Model: Schuetzen Rifle

Serial Number: 29604

Year of Manufacture: The rifle was definitely made after 1891 and probably before WWI. We are categorizing this rifle as an Antique because the 4.5mm Flobert is an obsolete cartridge.

Caliber: 4.5mm Flobert. The barrel was bored out to 0.550” and a bronze sleeve with a steel liner was inserted at the breech that is chambered for 4.5mm Flobert.

Action Type: This is a single shot falling block action based on the Martini action. It is lever operated.

Markings: The top of the barrel is marked in German script “Miller & Val. Greiss Kgl. Hofbuchsenmacher-Munchen”. (Val. is short for Valentin and the Kgl. stands for Koniglich, as Miller & Val. were sourced by the Court of Bavaria). The underside of the barrel is marked “H.M.” in front of the lug and behind the lug with “1”, “29604”, “SS”, “44”, a proof mark (we want to say it is an Imperial Eagle, but it doesn’t look like any eagle proof we have seen before), a “Crown / B” definitive proof, “7,6 mm” , “2” and “300”. The receiver and its tangs, the rear two inches of the barrel, the trigger guard portion of the lever and the breechblock are heavily engraved with leaf and floral motifs. Each side of the receiver is also engraved with a cameo of a man in hunting attire holding a rifle. Even the screw heads, the forend’s barrel wedge and its escutcheons are engraved. The lever portion of the lever is finely checkered and the top of the barrel is finely serrated. The inside surface of the forend is marked in pencil with “604”.

Barrel Length: The overall length of the fluted barrel is 27 ¾”. The length of the sleeve is about 8 3/8”.

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a ball and pin held in a base with protective ears that is held in a fore-aft dovetail in a ramped base which in turn is dovetailed into the barrel. The ramp and the entire length of the barrel are finely serrated to reduce glare. The rear sight is a Schuetzen style aperture sight adjustable for windage and elevation. It is attached to a base which is integral with the upper tang. The eyepiece is 1.515” in diameter.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two piece walnut. The buttstock has a straight grip but is designed to be used with the lever acting as a pistol grip. There is a deep thumbrest on the right side of the wrist, a Monte Carlo comb with a tall and deep cheekpiece, and a Schuetzen style engraved case colored steel buttplate. The buttplate has a small knob at the top and a single prong at the bottom. There is a sling swivel mounted in the belly and a 2nd sling swivel mounted on the underside of the barrel in front of the forend, which is held with a wedge. The buttstock is ornately carved with leaf and floral patterns and there is a cameo of a shooter dressed in Tyrolean attire holding a rifle in one hand and a round target in the other carved into the left side of the buttstock behind the cheekpiece. The front and rear of the forend are also engraved in leafy patterns. There is checkering on the left side of the wrist and the right side of the buttstock starting at the front of the comb and going back several inches. Please see our pictures for a better description than we can put in words. The outside edge of the thumbrest is broken off. There are two compression marks in the cheekpiece, a compression mark behind the swivel in the belly, a few small dings on the right side of the buttstock and several more in the forend with a shallow bruise just above the wedge on the right side. The wood to metal fit is excellent. The checkering shows light wear with moderate to heavy wear at the edges and an almost undetectable mar in the middle of the checkering on the right side. The LOP measures 12 3/8” from the front of the forward trigger and 11 3/8” from the front of the rear trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate shows two tiny nicks, light wear at the heel and toe and is starting to form a mottled patina. The buttplate is in about Fine to condition. The stocks are in about Good condition and would be rated Excellent except for the broken thumbrest.

Type of Finish: The barrel is blued. The receiver, lever and buttplate are case colored. Please see the markings section for the engraving.

Finish Originality: All Original

Bore Condition: The smooth section of the rifle bore is dark with light tool marks. We can’t determine the condition of the rifled sleeve.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 92% of its metal finish. There is light thinning along the underside of the barrel with a shallow bruise just in front of the sling swivel. The rest of the barrel shows several very light handling marks sprinkled over its length. There also a few spots of pinprick surface erosion on the sides of the barrel at the rear. The receiver shows tiny spots of freckling and there is surface etching at the front of the breechblock. The lever and aperture sight have developed a plum colored patina. The checkering on the lever shows light wear. The serrations on the top of the barrel are unmarred. The screw heads are sharp and the markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Excellent condition with the exception of having been sleeved to 4.5mm Flobert and the broken thumbrest on the stock.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The rifle has double set triggers, and the front trigger is currently set very light. There are pins holding the breechblock and lever which can be quickly pulled out by hand for easy disassembly and cleaning. There is also a lever on the lower tang that we suspect is for removal of the stock. We have not fired this rifle.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None

Our Assessment: Miller and Val. Greiss was formed in the 1870’s or perhaps as late as 1880. They were gunmakers to the court of Bavaria and included “Kgl.” and sometimes “Kgl. Bay” in the markings on their guns and advertisements. Kgl.is short for Koniglich and Bay. for Bayerischen, indicating the King of Bavaria, probably King Ludwig II. Please see http://www.damascus-barrels.com/German_Research/miller_and_val_greiss.html for information on Miller & Greiss. This is a great looking Schuetzen rifle with ornate engraving on the receiver and carving on the buttstock. it has a fluted barrel, a Schuetzen buttstock with a high cheekpiece and single pronged buttplate double triggers and a Schuetzen style aperture sight attached to a base integral with the upper tang. The engraving and stock carving is really beautiful, so please see our pictures. From the “7,6mm” marking on the bottom of the barrel, we think that this rifle was originally made in 8.15mmx46R. a very popular and accurate rifle for Schuetzen rifles at the turn of the century. At some point, the barrel was bored out to 0.550” and the rear of the barrel sleeved for 4.5mm Flobert. The buttstock on this rifle has a very prominent thumbrest on the right side, the top edge of which has been broken off. Without this flaw and the bored and sleeved barrel, this rifle would be rated in Excellent condition. It has about 92% of its original finish remaining. The barrel shows a few tiny marks along its length with a few tiny spots of pinprick surface erosion on its sides above the forend at the back of the barrel. There is surface etching in the top of the breechblock and the lever and aperture sight are developing a plum colored patina. The wood shows a few compression marks and several light marks. Almost all of the European Schuetzen rifles made at the turn of the century are nice looking, but this is certainly one of the really ornate rifles – again, lease see our pictures! Anyone who admires fine German craftsmanship would want to have this rifle in his or her collection.

EXQUISITE Engraved & Carved Miller & Val. Greiss Schuetzen Martini Falling Block, 27 ¾ Single Shot Rifle, Double Set Triggers, Antique - 4.5mm Flobert
EXQUISITE Engraved & Carved Miller & Val. Greiss Schuetzen Martini Falling Block, 27 ¾ Single Shot Rifle, Double Set Triggers, Antique – 4.5mm Flobert