I don’t know much about this maker, and I think the ignition system is based on an updated version of Dreyse’s needlefire patent. But I am 100% certain that it’s a beautiful gun.
More info on it from the Johann Springer website:
Barella was reported to have had clients such as the King of Italy and Romania as well as the Tsar of Russia.
Beautiful example of a needle fire shotgun made by Heinrich Barella of Magdenburg, Germany. Barella was born in Soest, Germany, in 1819 and at the approximate age of 24, attained the level of Master Gunsmith. In 1844, he founded his firm H. Barella Gewehrfabrik in Magdeburg, Germany. In the mid 1860s he was a gunmaker to the Prussian Royal Court and in 1871, he was the gunmaker to the Royal Court in Berlin. Barella died in 1893.
This shotgun features Damascus barrels. The breech end of the rib is gold inlaid “H. BARELLA KÖNIGL. PREUSSISCHER & KAISERL. RUSSISCHER HOFBÜCHSENM: BERLIN” flanked by relief oak leaf engraving.
The breech end of the barrels are relief engraved with a broad scroll and oak leaf design. There are two gold wire inlaid bands on the muzzles and one on the breech end as well as a decorative design on each end. The bottom of each barrel under the forearm are marked with the serial number 1539. The receiver and under break lever are relief engraved with a floral scroll design and the rear portion of the forearm, has a scene of a hunting dog flushing a game bird on the left side and two deer on the right side. There are wide gold inlaid bands on the front and rear of the receiver and on the rear of the forearm. Double triggers with the forward trigger being a set trigger and a decorative horn grip extension. The forward wood portion of the forearm is carved with a floral vine design, as are the sides of the stock wrist and right side of the stock. The bottom of the forearm has a round silver initial plate which is engraved with a crown and inscribed “AK”. With the Baron crown, one can only suspect this shotgun was made for someone of royalty. The left side of the stock features a cheekpiece and a beautifully carved wooden scene of two deer. The iron buttplate is engraved with a floral vine design, there is a compartment for two shells, and the door is engraved with a buck in a field scene. The barrels have 2 1/2 inch chambers.
