Colt Model 1883 Hammerless Double Barrel Shotgun with double triggers, factory engraving and checkered fancy grain walnut stock and forearm. This shotgun is accompanied by a Colt factory letter (addressed to Richard Atkinson) that describes the features as: 12 gauge, thirty-inch barrel, blue finish and $10.00 engraving. The letter states that this shotgun was shipped from Colt's to the J.W. Lovell Arms Company in Boston, Massachusetts, on March 24, 1888. The shotgun features blue Damascus finish, barrels with a raised solid rib and brass bead. The factory legend "COLT'S. PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD. CT. U.S.A." is die stamped in a single line on the top of the rib. The receiver, trigger guard and forearm latch are color casehardened. The side plates and bottom of the trigger guard are engraved with highly detailed game scenes. Delicate English style scrollwork with double line and zig-zag borders covering the balance of the receiver, upper and lower tang and trigger guard. The bottom of the receiver is engraved "PATENTED/AUG. 22, SEP. 19, 1882" in front of the trigger guard. "SAFE" is carved in relief above the safety selector switch. The serial number "2271" is engraved on the lower tang and stamped on the bottom of the right barrel and on the inside of the forearm latch. All of the visible serial numbers match. The stock and forearm are highly figured walnut with fine checkered panels on the flats immediately behind the receiver. The forearm has a horn tip and the pistol grip has a black hard rubber cap. The stock is fitted with a black hard rubber checkered buttplate with the Rampant Colt logo in the center and is inlaid with a German silver oval escutcheon. The Model 1883 Double Barrel Shotgun is considered to be one of the finest firearms ever manufactured by Colt. No expense was spared to ensure that the Model 1883 Shotgun was equal to the finest British and European products. The Model 1883 Shotgun is generally considered to be one of the best of all American double barrel shotguns. Only 7,366 of these fine shotguns were manufactured between 1883 and 1895. Surviving examples are scarce and very desirable.

Fine. The shotgun has moderate handling wear and retains 30% of the original blue and casehardened finish. The Damascus finished barrels retain more than 60% of the pattern with the balance having faded to a plum patina. The casehardened forearm latch, receiver, trigger guard and tang have a silver patina with traces of case colors in protected areas. The delicate game scenes and scrollwork are crisp. The fancy grain walnut stock and forearm are very good overall with sharp checkering. Both the stock and forearm show moderate handling wear but retain most of the high polish piano finish. The action is tight and the shotgun appears to be in excellent mechanical condition. This is a fine example of a scarce and very desirable Deluxe Colt Model 1883 Hammerless Double Barrel Shotgun.