This rifle is signed "JOHANN*GEORG*DAX*IN*MUNCHEN" on the barrel and similarly on the lock and features beautiful engraving. Dax worked in Munich c. 1714-1743 and is noted as having Court Engraver Johann Christoph Stengl work on many of his fine arms (see p. 276 of "Der Neue Stockel" by Herr). The swamped octagonal barrel has seven-groove rifling, a dovetailed brass blade front sight surrounded by scroll engraving, a dovetailed three-leaf rear sight with engraved foliate finial, a hunter accompanied by his hounds and shot game on the breech end along with scrollwork and a sunken gold lined "-I.G.-/-DAX-" maker's mark, and "2" engraved among the scrollwork on the tang indicating the rifle was part of a pair. The flat lockplate has an internal wheel leaving a large open surface for engraving and displays detailed scenes of falconry. The inside of the lock also features fine scroll engraving, and the iron trigger guard is engraved en suite with a portrait of Diana, goddess of the hunt, on the finial and scrollwork. The full-length stock has extensive light and dark horn inlays along with inlaid pearl accents, and the inlays on the cheekpiece are scroll engraved and incorporate a mask. The wooden ramrod has a light horn tip. The rifle was acquired by Norman R. Blank from the Frank Bivens Collection via F. Theodore Dexter on April 19, 1961. The rifle is featured as item 17 and shown in plate 10 of "Half Century Scrapbook of Vari-Type Firearms" by Dexter. Provenance: The Frank E. Bivens Jr. Collection; F. Theodore Dexter; The Norman R. Blank Collection