Daniel Fraser, one of the most highly regarded late Victorian period Scottish rifle makers, was a former apprentice of Alexander Henry. He set up his own company in circa 1873 in Edinburgh and worked in partnership for a time with his brother, John, trading as D. & J. Fraser. Sometime around 1888 Daniel went it alone and formed Daniel Fraser & Company. Famed for his excellent target rifles, he and Alexander Henry patented the unique Henry-Fraser two-position rifle in 1877. In 1880 Fraser was granted his own patent (No. 5403) for a falling block rifle which was used in both target and sporting configurations to great effect. Dating to circa 1890, this rifle has a blued round barrel with raised full length file cut matted sighting rib and a sling eye mounted beneath. The rib is signed “DANL. FRASER & CO./GUN & RIFLE MANUFACTURERS/4 LEITH ST. TERRACE EDINBURGH” and fitted with a bead front sight with small flip-up moon sight, and rear sight of one standing notch sight and one folding leaf each with fine file cut matting, platinum inlaid center line and graduated to “200” yards. Casehardened action signed “FRASER’S PATENT No. 218”, with automatic safety with gold inlaid “SAFE” and finely engraved with tight scrollwork with Celtic knotwork borders. Trigger guard engraved en suite. Well figured walnut semi-pistolgrip stock with orange rubber recoil pad, raised cheekpiece, blank shield shaped gold initial escutcheon, sling eye, checkered grip with dark horn pistolgrip cap, and checkered forearm with shaped dark horn tip and Deeley & Edge fastener.

This rare rifle remains in very good condition. The barrel retains nearly all of its reblued finish with well defined file cut matting, some wear to the signature which was shallow engraved. The action has crisp very fine engraving and retains 30% faded original casehardened finish. The trigger guard retains traces of its original blued finish on the inner surface. The stock has an attractive figured pattern and has been expertly refinished, it has been pinned at the head and retains well defined multipoint checkering. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.