Master gunsmith creating fletchings.

„And what? My little fur? A small bird,

And how did she perform? That's nothing new for her:

She won't let any cargo go to waste.”

What bird was the Assessor talking about in Book IV of „Pan Tadeusz”? Of course, he was talking about the cieszynka, a reliable Polish-made rifle! The cieszynka is a decorative hunting rifle, produced in Cieszyn at least since the 16th century, which transformed from a hunting tool into a hallmark of local craftsmanship.

The weapon was mainly intended for hunting stationary birds, which is why it was also called a „bird gun,” and it was valued for its lightness, accuracy, reliability, and decorative craftsmanship.

Its distinguishing features were a „doe's foot” shaped buttstock and a richly decorated forend, often inlaid and personalized.

At its peak, Cieszyn gunsmithing held European prestige: Cieszyn firearms found their way into the collections of rulers and magnates, and today they are found in museums around the world.

After centuries of glory, the tradition had almost disappeared but was not broken thanks to Jerzy Wałga, the last master who knew the secrets of its execution.

The Volga does not make simple replicas, but new carvings built with historical methods, with traditional decorations of mother-of-pearl, silver, brass, or ivory.

His role goes beyond the workshop: as a craftsman, conservator, and storyteller, he has saved the cieszynka from the status of a museum curiosity and restored its place in the living culture of Cieszyn.