Thank you Tony, Stu and Richard
.
I wouldn't say that the stock has ever been longer, but surely the provision for a ramrod was a later addition to the barrel, with its two brass pipes of slightly different dimensions.
The trigger guard and caps case are in German silver which, together with the damascus barrel, denote a certain degree of quality, i would say.
Mind you Stu, the 12 mm caliber equates more to .50" range, to be precise.
Still i wait for your visit to my cave
I agree with Richard that this caliber was (and is) enough for small game ... not only rabbits but more certainly birds ... snipes and so ? i am no hunting expert
. However i remember going bird hunting with a friend, with a 9 mm cartridge shotgun his father has acquired in the Brussels exhibition.
So the carved figure would be either a dog, a lion, a bear, a fish or a dolphin
. I would by now easier 'swallow' a multi faceted monster, with a bit of all sugested animals
Thanks a lot for the hint on the Bernard twist, Richard.
Unfortunately there are no marks in this piece.
Thank you all again, guys.
Fernando