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LOT 347
Very Rare Engraved William Cashmore 12 Bore “Nitro” Double Barrel Single-Trigger Boxlock Ejector Trap Shotgun with Extra Barrels - Serial no. 20338, 12 gauge, 32 inch and 28 1/4 inch vent rib bbl., blue/bright finish, walnut stock. The firm of William Cashmore was highly regarded as makers of excellent pigeon and clay pigeon shotguns and counted Annie Oakley amongst their advocates. This highly unusual improvement on the conventional boxlock design was patented by Cashmore on September
12, 1895, (British patent no. 17040, noting it being
an improvement on the S. Mill’s patent no. 19300 of 1894) and utilized a multi-grip action
to produce a shotgun capable of withstanding heavy loads. The design was marketed by
Cashmore as the “Nitro”. The blued chopper lump barrels are respectively signed “WILLIAM CASHMORE. STEELHOUSE LANE. BIRMINGHAM. ENGLAND” and “SIR J. WHITWORTH’S FLUID COMPRESSED STEEL”, and each is engraved with a band of stylised foliage and a scroll engraved notched extension at the breech end. The raised ventilated file cut matted rib has front and intermediate bead sights. The extra barrel set is of similar form to the main barrels: chopperlump construction with narrower raised ventilated rib with checkered file cut matting and the barrels respectively signed “WILLIAM CASHMORE” and “25 WHITTALL STREET. BIRMINGHAM.” The bright scallop-back action is signed “WM. CASHMORE” on each side and has carved serpentine fences, removable firing pin bushings, a blued toplever and locking pawls to engage with the barrel extensions, a blued floorplate, and an automatic safety with gold inlaid “S”. The trigger plate has a trigger selector with gold inlaid “L” and “R”, and the trigger guard is blued. The action and furniture are engraved with classic English scrollwork. The barrel flats are struck with Birmingham nitro proof and reproof marks, and the underside of each barrel also struck with a Whitworth trademark. It is import marked under the forearm. The well-figured walnut semi-pistol grip stock has a leather wrapped recoil pad, carved drop points, multipoint checkered grip and beavertail forearm, and a blank gold shield-shaped initial escutcheon on the bottom of the butt. The leather case has “V.E. HERITAGE” on the lid, a William P. Jones trade label, cleaning rod and attachments, and tool. Barrel measurements for extra set (R/L): chambers reproved at 3 inches; bore diameter 9 inches from the breech both reproved at .736 inches and both measured at .735 inches; choke constrictions.006/.005 inches; minimum wall thickness .032/.031. Barrel and stock measurements for primary set (R/L): chambers reproved at 3 inches; bore diameter 9 inches from the breech both reproved at 12 (.729 inches) and measured at .733/.734; choke constriction .041/.040 inches; minimum wall thickness .028/.028 inches; 1 1/2 inch drop at comb; 2 1/4 inch drop at heel; 14 3/8 inch length of pull; cast-off; weight 8 lbs 4 oz. CONDITION: Fine as partially refinished. The barrels retain 95% reblued finish, clear engraving and matting to the rib, and light wear. The toplever, pawls, and floorplate retain nearly all of the reblued finish with light wear, and the trigger guard retains 85% reblued finish with some handling rubbing on the tang. The action has been cleaned bright. The engraving has some softening through handling on the trigger guard but is otherwise crisp throughout. The reoiled wood is very good and has some scattered handling and storage marks, well-defined checkering, and an old repair to the right side of forearm wood. The leather wrapped recoil pad is in excellent condition. Mechanically excellent. The extra barrels retain 96% reblued finish, are loose on action when assembled, and have worn signatures and breech end engraving. The case is very good and has mild wear, new straps, handle, and corner pieces; some loss of the label, and minor staining and contact marks on the lining. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection. Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 348
Fine & Rare Harrods,
London .410 Double
Barrel Boxlock Ejector Shotgun with Case -
Serial no. 16237, 410 gauge, 28 inch solid rib bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut
stock. Harrods used to retail shotguns, rifles and handguns from its world-famous Knightsbridge department store. The present gun bears a Birmingham proof date
code for 1936. The blued steel barrels are each engraved with a band of stylized foliage at the breech end, and
the concave rib is signed “HARRODS LTD. KNIGHTSBRIDGE. LONDON.” An import mark is under the forearm.
The casehardened border engraved action has a blued toplever, an automatic safety with gold inlaid “SAFE”, a blued floor plate and a blued trigger guard. The figured straight hand stock has a checkered butt, grip and forearm; a dark horn tip and Deeley & Edge fastener on the forearm, and a blank silver oval initial escutcheon on the underside of the butt. The canvas case has “E.M.F.” on the lid, an end label with a red “F,”“G.A. Frost” signature, and W. Evans, Ltd. address; a Harrods metal label inside the lid, and a cleaning rod inside. Birmingham nitro proof marks. Barrel and stock measurements: chambers proved at 2 1/2 inches; 1 1/2 inch drop at comb; 2 inch drop at heel; 14 1/2 inch length of pull; cast-off; weight 4 lbs 4 oz.
CONDITION: Fine. The barrels retain nearly all of the reblued finish and have a clear rib signature. The action and forearm iron retain 95% original casehardened finish and crisp engraving. The toplever and floorplate retain nearly all of the finish. The finish on the trigger guard has flaked and worn off with handling, and it has gray patina and light oxidation. The stock is very good with only occasional minor storage and handling blemishes, well-defined checkering, and slightly loose forend. Mechanically excellent. The restored case is very good with mild age related wear and staining on the fabric and some new leather.
Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 349 Engraved William Evans 12 Bore Double Barrel Sidelock Ejector Shotgun - Serial no. 4427, 12 gauge, 28 inch solid rib bbl., blue/ casehardened finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in circa 1905. The blued barrels are each engraved with a band of scrollwork at the breech end, and the concave rib has a bead front sight, is signed “WILLIAM EVANS FROM PURDEY’S. 63. PALL MALL, ST. JAMES’S. LONDON,” and is engraved with scrollwork at the rib extension. The casehardened treble grip action incorporates the Webley & Brain patent “Screw Grip” (British patent no. 3053) of 1882 and is marked “PATENT” around the blued toplever, and it has blued removable firing pin bushings and an automatic safety with gold inlaid “SAFE”. The casehardened back action sidelocks are each signed “WILLIAM EVANS” within a ribbon, and the trigger guard is blued. Fine bouquet and scroll engraving is throughout. The underside of the barrels and the water table have London nitro proof and reproof marks, and an import mark is under the forearm. The figured straight-hand stock has a 5/8 inch checkered wood extension, a checkered grip and forearm, a blued Anson push-button release on the forearm, and a gold oval initial escutcheon engraved with a Gothic “B” on the underside of the butt. Barrel and stock measurements (R/L): chambered proved 70 mm (2 3/4 inches); bore diameter 9 inches from the breech reproved at 18.6/18.8 mm (.732/.740 inches) and measured at .733/.740 inches; choke constriction .012/.021 inches; minimum wall thickness .027/.027 inches; 1 1/2 inch drop at comb; 2 1/16 inch drop at heel; 14 5/8 inch length of pull; cast-off; weight 6 lbs 7 oz. CONDITION: Very good. The barrels retain 98% reblued finish and a clear rib signature. The action and locks each retain faded traces of original casehardened finish and have crisp engraving. The toplever retains 90% blued finish. The trigger guard retains 50% blued finish with loss of finish and softened engraving from handling. The stock is also very good and has an older refinish and occasional scattered age related minor storage and handling marks. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.
Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750 263