ITEM # 68
serial #13960, 500/450 BPE, 26" barrels with excellent bores. This is a fabulous rifle. The barrels retain 95% original blue, fading slightly at the muzzles and breeches, and are equipped with a two leaf rear sight graduated to 100 and 200 yards. The frame and back action lockplates exhibit lovely British floral scroll engraving with fierce dragons on both hammers and retain strong original case colors, as well as nearly all of the gold plating on the firing pins. The forend and nicely figured, pistol gripped stock have an excellent lustrous oil finish with virtually no handling marks or other blemishes visible and have nice, sharp points on the checkering. The action is tight and the gun does not seem to have been used very much. The length of pull measures 14 1/4" to a checkered steel buttplate and the drops measure 1 3/4" at the comb, 2 1/4" at the heel. The gun is housed in its original Rigby labelled, two-tiered oak and leather traveling case which is embossed "SIR. W. ARMSTRONG" on the lid and has an eleven compartment, crimson baize lined, removeable tray containing: a small wooden jar with two spare gold plated firing pins, a period leather pouch with bore cleaning tools and pull-through, a period glass jar of "Exhibition Prize Oil", ebony cleaning rod, brass decapper base, turn-screw, spanner, wire brush, and two reloading tool handles. The bottom compartment has seven cartridge trays which contain 91 de-primed brass cases. The original canvas over-sleeve has "Sir. W. Armstrong." in vintage white paint and has flaked but still intact leather straps. A 1970 dated letter from David Marx, then director of John Rigby & Co., accompanies the gun and confirms that the rifle was made for Sir William Armstrong in 1873. Also included are a 1990 dated sample target and a period note in ink which reads, "45 Ball Cartridges in the bottom of gun case between leather & wood case. G." William George Armstrong, one of the most important names in the history of modern artillery and warship design, was born on November 26, 1810, in Newcastle to William Armstrong, a successful grain merchant. He received a legal education in accordance with his father's wishes and practiced for 11 years as a partner at Donkin, Stable & Armstrong until his interest in engineering caused him to turn his efforts towards the development of heavy equipment. In 1847 he left the law firm and formed W.G. Armstrong & Co. in order to manufacture a highly successful hydraulic crane of his own design and later, his hydraulic accumulator, which raised water pressure enough to use his crane on unsuitable ground. After reading of the difficulty the Royal Artillery had in moving their heavy field guns during the Crimean War, Armstrong built a lighter, rifled, 5-pounder breech-loading gun designed to fire explosive shells rather than solid shot which he submitted for government trials. The inspection committee accepted his design in an 18-pounder version and, rather than profit from his design, Armstrong surrendered his patent to the British government, an act which earned him a knighthood in 1859. Armstrong soon became heavily involved in armaments production and sold guns to both sides during the American Civil War. His company later specialized in the construction of ironclad warships, and Armstrong himself became president of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1881. He was elevated to the peerage in 1887 as Baron Armstrong of Cragside and he died on September 27, 1900, at the age of 90. This is a wonderful opportunity for the collector, not only to own a Best Quality English double rifle in excellent condition, but to own a piece of history belonging to one of the great men of the Industrial Revolution. (1915-105) {ANTIQUE} [Ray Day Collection] (15,000/30,000) SOLD FOR $23000.00 |
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