Product Details
WILFRIED GLANZNIG
AN EXCEPTIONAL, DEFLORIAN-ENGRAVED .300 WEATH. MAG. SIDELOCK EJECTOR SINGLE-BARRELLED 'KIPPLAUF' SPORTING RIFLE, serial no. 53055,
26in. octagonal blued nitro barrel with raised sight rib with bright steel finish, finely engraved open sights and ramp-mounted bead fore-sight, the breech end mounted with a Zeiss Diavari-C 3-9x36 T* telescopic sight in exquisitely engraved bright steel finish quickly-detachable mounts, the rib signed by the maker and the whole with symmetrical floral and scroll flourishes, slim action with finely sculpted standing breech, removable striker disc, elongated top strap with manual safety, gold-inlaid cocking-indicator, set trigger, the action, lockplate and decorative sideplate and furniture exquisitely engraved with tight acanthus scrollwork and floral bouquets and with fine gold highlighting, the fore-end decorated en suite, the lockplate signed 'W. GLANZNIG' in a scrolling banner, the triggerplate signed 'J. Deflorian', 14 3/8in. highly-figured pistolgrip stock with fluted grip, cheekpiece, finely engraved steel pistolgrip-cap and sling swivels, including 5/8in. rubber recoil pad, fore-end with Deeley & Edge patent release catch, weight 8lb. 7oz., in its blue velveteen lined brass-cornered leather case, with 'passport' signed by the maker and sighting targets
Provenance: Wilfried Glanznig is regarded by many as the finest gunmaker in Austria, producing work that is the equal of anything else in the world and amassing a loyal following along the way.
He was born 13th January 1943 and began his career, aged 18, when he went to work under Josef Just in Ferlach. He remained with Just until 1975, a spell of fourteen years, when he attained the title of Master Gunmaker. He set-up his own workshop the following year (where he remains to this day) and initially set-about building simple kipplauf and combination rifles with boxlock actions. Two years later he applied himself to the relative complexities of the sidelock, and built a single-trigger ejector drilling.
Since 1982 he has built only 'best' sidelock guns. Glanznig considers the year 2000 to be his zenith when he completed a series of, as he describes, "grand complications" in the form of drillings and vierlings, all with single-triggers and full ejectors. The years wouldn't appear to have slowed him, and aged 69, he still regularly indulges his passion for skiing and paragliding.
Joachim Deflorian was commissioned to engrave this Lot (and the following two). He was born 31st January in Bozen, Italy and spent his childhood in the Tyrol. Here he showed an artistic bent and drew many fine landscapes; a talent he probably inherited from his grandfather who was an artist and wood-carver of some note.
Deflorian enrolled in the Ferlach School for Handguns in 1959 where he learnt the skills of a gunmaker. Once his military service was at an end he returned to Ferlach and worked as a gunmaker for Josef Hambrusch. He spent a deal of time with Hambrusch observing his brother-in-law, who was the firm's engraver, and decided that this was the path he wished to follow. In order to do this he returned to the gunmaking school for training but remained 'at the bench' for Hambrusch in the afternoon. He was taken under the wing of master engraver, Johann Singer, and once qualified was offered commissions by many of Ferlach's top makers. However, he considered it an honour to be asked to work for Glanznig.
He still undertakes commissions, but aged 71 has discovered a new artistic use for his fingers; blues guitar. After returning to school, albeit for a very different subject, he now plays for a minimum of two hours per day between bouts of fine engraving.
Estimate £28,000-32,000
S1