Designed as a trap gun by machinist and part time gunsmith Harry McKay of Warrenton, Missouri. Blue barrel with a milled, serrated vent rib with dual white bead sights, 3 inch chamber with ejector, and full choke. The action itself is unique with a lever forward of the trigger guard to release the barrels. Features full coverage finely executed scroll engraving with gold line and foliate borders surrounding semi-relief gold inlaid game bird scenes of a pheasant on the right, and a turkey on the left. The right side is signed "N. HARTLIEP" for master engraver Neil Hartliep. The underside of the receiver is inscribed "MONOMAC/No. TEN" over the name "Graves/Gladney". Multi-point checkered beavertail forearm and pistol grip stock with a solid Pachmayr recoil pad. The name inscribed on the under side of the receiver is that of famed pulp magazine artist Graves Gladney, a native of St. Louis, Missouri. Gladney painted 70 covers for the popular pulp magazine "The Shadow" from 1939 to 1941, was a professor of fine art at Washington University in St. Louis, avid sport shooter, and was the son of the founder of the 7-UP soft drink company. Gladney's service during WWII is as storied as the publications he painted for, enlisting in 1942 and serving first as a gunnery instructor at Fort Sam Houston before being transferred to the 82nd Airborne where he was deployed in both the D-Day landing and Operation Market Garden via combat glider, and eventually as a First Lieutenant, leading his combat division into Berlin in 1945. Graves' exploits in WWII were also an inspiration for the fictional character, Max Collins, in the popular 2nd Amendment novel "Unintended Consequences" written by Graves nephew, John Ross. Lot comes with written documentation by the consignor regarding the military service and family history of Graves Gladney. Bore and stock measurements: chamber measured at 3 inches; bores 9 inches from the breech measuring at .732; choke measured at .045; minimum wall thickness .014; drop at comb 1 5/16 inches; drop at heel 1 1/8 inches; length of pull 14 5/8 inches; weight 8 lbs. 10 oz. From the John Ross collection, author of the bestselling novel "Unintended Consequences".

Excellent. 99% original blue finish remains with light handling marks mostly on the trigger. The engraving is sharp and gold inlays complete. The wood is very good with attractive figure, well defined checkering, and visible cracking and crazing of the varnish on the buttstock. Mechanically excellent. A very unique high grade trap gun with interesting history!