Page 250 - Auction84-Book1

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LOT 402
Fine Engraved Westley Richards .303 Double Barrel Boxlock Ejector Rifle with Case - Serial no. 15686, 303 cal., 28 inch bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. The makers have kindly confirmed that work began on this rifle in 1898 and it was sold to Viscount Castlereagh, Charles Stewart Henry Vane-Tempest-Stewart, upon completion in 1899. With blued Krupp steel chopperlump barrels each engraved with a band of stylized foliage at the breech end and
CHARLES VANE-TEMPEST- STEWART WITH HIS 2ND COUSIN, WINSTON CHURCHILL
LOT 403
Game Scene Engraved Isaac Hollis
& Sons Boxlock Ejector Double Rifle - Serial no. 114748, 450/400 3 1/4” cal.,
26 inch solid rib bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Blued steel barrels with beaded blade front and five leaf (one standing, four folding) rear sights on raised sections of the matted solid rib, “I. HOLLIS & SONS BIRMINGHAM & LONDON” and “AMMUNITION. 450/400 - 3 1/2” CASE. 60 GNS - 400” on the right and left respectively, engraved bands at either breech, and single extractor. The casehardened boxlock action displays floral scroll engraving around a scene of a running
tiger on the left and a tiger stalking a deer on the right. The rifle features double triggers, bushed firing pins, and an automatic tang mounted safety switch. Nicely figured, multi-point checkered splinter forend with engraved fittings including the Anson button release and pistol grip stock with engraved blue grip cap, cheekpiece, empty sling swivel hole, blank inscription oval, and red rubber recoil pad. The length of pull is 14 11/16 inches. The weight is 10 lbs 11 oz.
CONDITION: Very fine as professionally refurbished, retaining 99% blue finish, bright finish on the action with minor grease marks, and light handling evidence. There is a small crack at the left of the stock head, otherwise the wood is very fine with a few minor marks and sharp checkering. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.
Estimate: 5,000 - 8,000
respectively signed “WESTLEY RICHARDS. 178 NEW BOND ST. LONDON” and engraved “FOR W.R. SPECIAL .303 CARTRIDGE”. Concave rib engraved “SPECIAL STEEL” and with front bead sight mounted on a scroll engraved ramp, the dovetailed rear sight is mounted
on a rounded scroll engraved block and is formed of one standing notch and two folding leaf notch sights each with platinum inlaid center line and graduated to 300 yards, and the breech end with doll’s head extension and
engraved with further scrollwork. Casehardened treble grip action with removable firing pin bushings, signed “WESTLEY RICHARDS” within a ribbon on each side, engraved “WESTLEY RICHARDS PATENT EJECTOR” ahead of the blued toplever, bolted automatic safety with gold inlaid “SAFE” and “BOLTED”, and with blued floorplate and blued trigger guard. The whole engraved with fine English scrollwork, the floorplate and trigger guard respectively including vignettes of an elephant and a wolf. The underside of the barrels and watertable struck with London nitro proof marks. Figured 14 1/4 inch walnut pistol grip stock with engraved heel and toe plates, raised cheekpiece and panels of multipoint checkering to the grip, behind the action and on the forearm, the grip with engraved dark horn cap and the forearm with scroll engraved Deeley and Edge fastener and dark horn tip. The underside of the butt with silver oval initial escutcheon engraved with a crowned monogram and blued sling mount, the corresponding sling eye is fitted beneath the barrel. Weight 8 lbs. 13 oz. In maker’s brass cornered oak and leather fitted case lined in green baize, the lid with Westley Richards printed trade label and instructional labels for use and cleaning. With accessories including snap caps and Westley Richards glass oil bottle, nickeled cleaning funnel and two spare mainsprings. The exterior of the case lid named “VISCOUNT CASTLEREAGH/ROYAL HORSE GUARDS”. CONDITION: Very good. The barrels retain 96% reblued finish with softened signatures and scroll engraving to the sight blocks. The action with 40% faded original casehardened finish, the toplever with 95% blued finish, and the floorplate and trigger guard with thinned reblued finish, crisp engraving throughout. The stock has well-defined checkering with scattered minor age related storage and handling blemishes, bruises and marks throughout. Mechanically excellent. Case exterior with age related wear and staining, some storage marks, relined baize interior with some wear and a cut line from the front sight to the lid, labels age stained with some holing, exterior straps missing. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection. Estimate: 9,000 - 14,000