588. John Nichols E-grade Thumb Opener Double Hammergun

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serial #6089, 10 ga., 29" barrels with fair bores showing minor and moderate pitting their full-length. Barrels are an overall deep pewter and brown patina showing scant traces of their original Damascus pattern. The frame and lockplates are a pleasing tarnished pewter patina with sparsely scattered oxidation staining and minor pitting at the front of the action flanking the hinge pin. The checkered steel gripcapped pistolgrip English walnut buttstock rates very good as lightly cleaned with the wood being fairly dark near the lockplates and frame, also showing a minor crack from the rear of the right lockplate toward the tang. The splinter style forend with push-button release rates very good as well, also devoid of finish with minor handling marks. The thumb-opener is positive, the rebounding locks crisp and the gun locks up tight. A nice example of these very scarce a John Nichols-built guns. Of the 625 hammergun actions Nichols took with him when the Nichols-Lefever partnership was dissolved this is the lowest reported serial number known (Elliott: Uncle Dan Lefever Master Gunmaker) (34290-46) {ANTIQUE} (700/900) SOLD FOR $920.00