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LOT 338
Very Fine & Rare Engraved Holland & Holland .577 (3 Inch Nitro Express) Double Barrel Rotary Underlever Big Game Hammer Rifle with Case - Serial no. 19269, 577 N.E. cal., 25 3/4 inch solid rib bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This fine double big game rifle was built at the turn of the 20th century and is highly unusual in being a hammer rifle made for use with nitro cartridges. The blued barrels are each engraved with double border lines at the breech end and respectively signed “HOLLAND & HOLLAND. 98. NEW BOND STREET. LONDON.” and “WINNERS OF ALL THE “FIELD” RIFLE TRIALS LONDON.”The flat partially matted rib has a ramped bead front sight with flip-up moon-sight and blued rear sight of one standing notch sight and two folding notch leaf sights each with platinum inlaid center line and graduated to 300 yards. The casehardened action has carved percussion fences and a long top strap extending to the comb. The left side of the action is engraved “CHARGE 89 GRAINS CORDITE/.577 CASE 3 INCHES”. The casehardened rebounding back action locks are each signed “HOLLAND & HOLLAND”. The Jones patent underlever, trigger plate, trigger
guard and pistol grip cap with hinged trap cover are also casehardened. There is border and scroll engraving throughout. The underside of the barrels and water table are struck with London nitro (Cordite) proof marks, and an import mark is under the forearm. The figured walnut pistol grip stock has a 3/4 inch rubber recoil pad, raised cheekpiece, checkered grip and forearm, casehardened lever fastener on the forearm, and a blank silver oval initial escutcheon on the underside of the butt along with a sling mount, and the corresponding sling mount is fitted beneath the barrels. It comes in a leather and oak case with maker’s trade label and red lining. 14 1/2 inch length of pull. Weight 12 lbs. CONDITION: Very fine as professionally refinished and was probably in little used condition before it was refinished. The barrels, action, locks, and furniture retain nearly all of the reapplied finish throughout. The barrel signatures and the engraving have been very well refreshed. There is some minor storage surface corrosion marking to the left fence and the left hammer retaining screw and slight loss of finish to the left lock. The wood is very fine with scattered minor age related handling blemishes, well-defined checkering, and expertly replaced forearm. The restored case is fine with mild wear. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection. Estimate: 12,000 - 18,000
LOT 339
Fine & Very Rare Engraved George Gibbs 12 Bore Double Barrel Sidelever Hammer Ejector Shotgun - Serial no. 18745, 12 gauge, 28 inch bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in circa 1897, this very rare hammer ejector features blued barrels each engraved with a band of stylized foliage at the breech end and a flat rib signed “GEORGE GIBBS. 39 CORN STREET BRISTOL. BARRELS SIR JOSEPH WHITWORTH’S FLUID PRESSED STEEL” with a bead front sight, bouquet and
scrollwork engraving towards the breech, and “2” inlaid in gold. The casehardened action has carved percussion fences and is also numbered “2” in gold
inlay. The casehardened sidelocks are signed “GEORGE GIBBS” with rebounding hammers. It has a casehardened trigger plate, blued sidelever, blued trigger guard, casehardened grip cap, and casehardened heel and toe plates. It is finely and profusely decorated with classic English bouquet and scroll engraving. The underside of the barrels and water table are struck with Birmingham nitro proof and nitro reproof marks. The well-figured walnut pistol grip stock has carved drop points and
panels of multipoint checkering to the grip and forearm, and the latter has a blued Anson push button release. The underside of the butt has a blank gold oval initial escutcheon. Barrel and stock measurements (R/L): chambers proved at 70 mm (2 3/4 inches); bore diameter 9 inches from the breech both reproved at 18.6 mm and
measured .735/.734 inches; choke constriction .008/.012 inches; minimum wall thickness .025/.025 inches; 1 7/16 inch drop at comb; 2 1/4 inch drop at heel; 15 5/16 inch length of pull; cast-off; weight 7 lbs 4 oz. CONDITION: Fine as expertly refinished. The barrels retain near 100% reblued finish with softened engraved decoration to the rib. The action, locks, and furniture retain nearly 100% of their renewed finishes, and the engraving is clear throughout. The left lock mainspring is a little weaker than the right lock mainspring; otherwise, it is mechanically excellent. It was expertly restocked and has sharp checkering, beautiful figure, and minimal light marks. Hammer ejector shotguns are highly sought-after, and this is certainly a very attractive example. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection. Estimate: 5,000 - 8,000
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