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LOT 328
Historic Exhibition Quality Factory Engraved Thomas Bland & Sons .360 (Black Powder Express) Farquharson Patent Falling Block Sporting Rifle Made for King Alfonso XIII of Spain - Serial no. 16626, 360 cal., 25 1/4 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This rifle was made for King Alfonso XIII
(1886-1941) of Spain in 1904. The Spanish king was enthroned two years earlier on May 17, 1902, at the age of 16 and in 1906 married Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg, the youngest granddaughter of Queen Victoria. They survived an attempted assassination when a bomb was thrown at their procession by an anarchist following their wedding ceremony, and the king faced additional plots. Like many royals, he went on hunting trips, introduced pheasant and partridge shoots to Spain, became a joint patron of the historic Royal Calpe Hunt in 1906 alongside King Edward VII, and was regarded as among the best royal marksmen in Europe in the early 20th century. Having ties to both sides of the First World War and divided public opinion on the war, Alfonso kept Spain neutral and aided prisoners of war on both sides. Spain was involved in the Rif War in Morocco in 1920-1926 to maintain its colonial rule. After a series of intrigues, he abdicated in 1931 but continued to be a fixture of royal hunts for several more years, and the country fell into civil war in 1936. The rifle features a blued barrel signed “THOMAS BLAND & SONS, 2 KING WILLIAM STREET, STRAND, LONDON.” and “WINNERS OF THE/1885/AMERICAN RIFLE TRIALS” and equipped with a beaded blade front sight mounted in a ramp, express rear sight with 100 yard standing notch, 200 and
300 yard folding leaves, and an 800 yard folding latter, all with platinum sight lines. A mounting block for a quick detachable scope is mounted behind the rear sight. The casehardened action is signed “T. BLAND & SONS” on the right and left and features extensive scroll and floral engraving, an automatic tang safety with a gold-inlaid “SAFE” marking, and the serial number inscribed on the lower tang.
LOT 329
Engraved Alexander Henry .450 (Black Powder Express) Falling Block Hammer Rifle -
Serial no. 4789, 450 black powder express cal., 28 1/8 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Serial number 4789 is listed in Donald Dallas, “Alexander Henry: Rifle Maker”, p. 291 and noted as completed on 25 May 1880, in .450 and as patent use number 1705. With blued barrel signed “ALEX.R HENRY. EDINBURGH AND LONDON.” and fitted with a bead front sight
on a raised base, two-leaf rear sight on a raised base, and London black powder proof marks. Casehardened border and scroll engraved action, underlever, trigger-guard and back-action lock, the last signed “ALEXR. HENRY” and has a sliding blued safety catch for the rebounding hammer. The top of the action engraved “PATENT NO. 1705”. Finely figured pistol grip stock with checkered grip and forearm, dark horn grip-cap, and rubber recoil pad. Norman R. Blank’s collection notes indicate this rifle was purchased from the Pasadena Gun Shop March 28, 1959.
CONDITION: Very fine with 90% plus original blue and 80% casehardened finish, patches of mild surface oxidation mainly on the barrel, and generally minor age and storage related wear. The engraving and markings are sharp. The wood is fine and has numerous dings and scratches in the otherwise crisp checkering, scattered dents and scrapes, nice striped figure on the buttstock, and deteriorated recoil pad. Mechanically fine. Alexander Henry’s rifles were noted among the very best of their day and remain highly sought after. Do no miss your chance to pick up this classic falling block express rifle.
Provenance: The Norman R. Blank Collection.
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,500
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