ITEM # 23
serial #16511, 12ga., 30" barrels choked full and full, 30" barrels choked extra full and extra full (this set with a 3" chamber), and 28" barrels choked cylinder and improved cylinder; all bores are bright excellent, one set of tubes showing a couple tiny dings and a couple very very light pits. Two of the sets are marked with the makers address on the right tube, the left tube showing "Made of Sir Joseph Whitworth's Fluid Pressed Steel", the third set of barrels featured the makers name on the rib only. All three sets show light, lovely scroll on the rear 2" of rib, with a geometric engraving around the breech. Two sets of barrels retain about 98% nice rust blue, the third set - obviously the favorite - shows about 95% original rust blue, the loss due to honest wear from light use. The frame and lockplates are overall stunning, tight scroll engraved, the fences showing a nice scallop-shell pattern with lovely bank-note filigree bordering the lockplates and frame's belly. "Royal Hammerless Ejector" is engraved on the frames belly, with the maker name on each lockplate above the gold inlaid cocking indicators. The frame is mostly a pleasing pewter patina with traces of colors beneath the fences and around the lever; the lockplates show perhaps 30% original colors. The English walnut stock is rounded pistol grip style with a dual checkered panels which meet at the top of the wrist. The buttstock rates about excellent was overall very minor dings and dents from the years of use. The forend is splinter style and shows a little bit more wear, rating very good to plus with a little darkening of the wood, and a few more minor dings and dents than the butt shows. There are the beginnings of a very minor crack on the right side of the forend. Two sets of barrels are Nitro proved, the two sets with the makers name on barrel rather than rib are marked for 1 1/8 oz. and 1 1/4 oz. loads (3" chamber); the other set of barrels which is marked "No.1" on the rear underlug, is not marked for weight of shot charge and is not nitro proved. All three sets of barrels exhibit tight lockup and Holland markings, all serial numbered alike. Length of pull to the rear of the solid red 5/8" pad is 15 1/8" with drops of 1 1/2" and 2 1/2". The gun comes cased in a modern canvas and leather luggage style case which will accommodate two of the three barrels, the spare set of barrels comes in an antique canvas sleeve. Holland factory records indicate this was ordered as a “pigeon gun” with two sets of barrels “one pigeon and one game” (30” full and full and 28” open chokes). Pigeon guns had heavier frames and barrels than standard prudction guns. Length of pull is listed as 15” and the gun shipped in May of 1896. Factory letter is included. This is a lovely and very versatile three barrel best quality Holland. (1951-1) {ANTIQUE} (12,000/18,000) |
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