Thanks for sharing. Wow, yes I have looked upon many engraved guns in the past 40 years and I think this is the best looking one of them all. But then I am a fan of the German style of stippling, large scroll and large oak leaves. I do believe the finish is french gray, as that was also a favorite finish by the Germans for the engraved guns.
Many years ago, an old retired Major from the Air Force moved to my small town and I was called to his house to do work, and he showed me his gun collection, Years later, when his wife divorce him and he needed a place to live, I sold him a lot off my farm and he build a house and shop next door, where I spent many, many hours watching and learning gunsmithing, stock making etc. Jack had been in Wiesbaden in the 1950 and wanted to learn about guns, so he worked in the shop of Werner Schultz, master engraver on his off days, learning engraving. I have a couple of rifles by Jack, and he never really did anything outside of work for friends. I watch him engrave for many years and spent way too many hours talking engraving, guns and stockwork over a glass of fine Burbon. So every gun show or available opportunity in the past several decades that presented an opportunity to look upon engraving, I took the time to do a detailed inspection. Of course, the other styles of engraving do not interest me, Jack and his guns created this love for German big scrolls, stippling and Oak Leaves. It is like looking on a fine beautiful lady to these old eyes. You have in my opinion, one of the finest engraved guns on the face of the planet. Life like animals are what separates the good engravers from the masters of the art. Wow. what a gun!! Thanks Jack Bennett for teaching me how to stock a gun and creating a love for fine art placed on a firearm, may he rest in peace, he has been gone many years now and I miss the old gunsmith and drinking buddy.
