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LOT 1598
Very Fine Factory Relief Game Scene Engraved and Gold Inlaid Josef Just Sidelock Over/Under Combination Gun - Serial no. 24453, 20/270 Win gauge, 25 inch solid rib bbl., blue/coin/gold finish, walnut stock. The city of Ferlach, Austria, has long been a hub of the European arms trade
and home to some of the finest gunmakers
in Europe. At the end of World War II there
were 56 gunsmiths in Ferlach, and by
the time this gun was built in 2011 that
number had fallen to just seven. Josef Just
was among the best of the best, though,
unfortunately the shops doors were closed
in recent years with no one to carry on the
business, making this a gun from the firms final chapter. The gun
has blued Bohler steel barrels with a beaded blade front sight, flip up rear sight, and engraved and gold inlaid German claw mounts
holding a Swarovski Habicht 6x42 Nova scope in engraved and gold inlaid mounts. There is also more fine engraving at the breech
section which is bordered by gold. The shotgun barrel has a 3 inch chambers sharing a extractor with the rifle barrel and a choke constriction of .027 inches. The coin finished sidelock action displays fine floral scrollwork and gold inlaid scrolling line borders surrounding a set of three beautifully cut, deep relief game scenes. The scenes show a roe buck with his hinds and fauns in a forest setting on the right, a depiction of the goddess Diana bow drawn, and a mounted German huntsman with his hounds chasing a red stag in the forest. The engraving continues onto the pierced toplever, both tangs, and triggerguard which shows the bust of a roe buck. The gun features bushed firing pin, a single set front trigger, and an automatic tang mounted safety. Beautifully figured, multi-point checkered forend with engraved and gold inlaid fittings, and the Bavarian style pistol grip stock with horn grip cap, raised cheekpiece, and a rubber recoil pad. Length of pull 14 9/16 inches. Weight 7 lbs. 15 oz. with scope.
CONDITION: Excellent overall, retaining 99% original blue and coin finishes with some areas of light loss in the gold, minor handling evidence, and sharp checkering on the stock and forend.
The scope optics are sharp. Mechanically excellent. A chance to own a work of art from on of Ferlach’s great makers! 428 Estimate: 15,000 - 27,500