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Gunmakers Volume One: London”. Built
with blued steel barrels featuring a beaded blade front sight and a
two-leaf (one standing, one folding) rear sight on the matted solid rib which is marked “JAMES WOODWARD & SONS 64 St. JAMES’S STREET LONDON”, band of engraving
at the breech, period London proofs, and chambers with extractor. The barrels are mounted to a fine casehardened Jones rotary underlever action which displays attractive floral scroll engraving and “J. WOODWARD & SONS.”
signatures on either lockplate. The rifle features rebounding hammers, safety bars, and double triggers. The rifle is fitted with an attractively figured
and multi-point checkered forend with engraved fittings and a pistol grip stock with horn grip cap, rear sling stud, blank inscription oval, and a hard
rubber buttplate. Included is a wood and canvas takedown case, snap caps, and cleaning tools. Length of pull 14 9/16 inches. Weight 7 lbs. 11 oz.
CONDITION: Very good overall, retaining some of the blue finish on the barrels which are turning a brown patina, traces of case colors on the action in the protected areas, dings and scratches mostly on the wood, scattered minor spotting, and mostly crisp wood checkering with some bruising. Case is very fine. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 1487
Attractive Boput of Nagpore Marked Stag Handle Hunting Knife with Latching Sheath - Manufactured c. the late 19th century by
Boput of Nagpore (Nagpur) in India. A knife such as this would have been a valued item for a British sportsman or military officer
while venturing in India. “The Sportsman’s Book for India” published in 1904 lists Boput of Nagpore along with Bodraj of Aurungabad
as the two best makers of hunting knives in India. The book also states that these knives are more desirable for sportsmen than knives of
English make, as the steel of English knives is very hard and “difficult to get re-sharpened in out-of-the-way places.” This example
measures 14 1/4 inches overall with a 9 7/8 inch blade with a slight drop point, deep fullers on both sides, and marked “BOPUT/
NAGPORE” on the left. The iron guard is slightly diamond shaped with ball shaped finials and an iron bolster. The grip is of stag
antler and fitted with a floral patterned German silver pommel. Includes a black leather wrapped sheath with iron fittings. The guard of
the knife has a small square hole which interacts with a spring latch on the sheath, locking the knife in the sheath.
CONDITION: Fine overall, the blade showing mostly a bright grey patina with some scattered patches of light pitting/oxidation, similar patina on other iron components of the knife and sheath, minimal handling marks on the grip, and some dark patina/oxidation on the German silver. A rare Indian made hunting knife fit for a British sportsman or officer!
Estimate: 1,500 - 2,500
LOT 1488
Desirable W. Thornhill & Co. London “Ellis” Bowie Style Sportsman’s Knife with Latching Sheath - Manufactured c. the late 1800s,
this knife was retailed by W. Thornhill & Co. of London, England. The Victorian Era “kite” registration mark on the right ricasso is dated 28
September 1875. Thornhill’s was a well-known retailer of cutlery and silverware on New Bond Street that traced its origins back to 1734.
Knives such as this would have been popular among British sportsmen, explorers, and military officers throughout the British Empire,
particularly in the wilder portions of Africa and India. It measures 12 1/2 inches overall, with a 7 3/4 inch clip point blade sporting a short,
steep false edge. The left of the blade below the spine is marked “ELLIS KNIFE”, and the left ricasso is marked with a “V[crown]R” royal
cypher and “THORNHILL/LONDON”, while the right ricasso bears the previously mentioned registration mark. The guard is iron with a
square hole on the left which interfaces with the locking mechanism of the sheath. The grips scales are checkered horn with the left panel
being slotted for the locking mechanism and stowing a pair of tweezers and a smaller pocket knife sized blade near the butt. The leather wrapped sheath
has a small iron locking latch near the throat.
CONDITION: Very good, the blade is mostly bright with some scattered patches of light pitting/grey patina, primarily near the tip, and a few minor dings in the edge. The grips are fine with a few light insect holes and light handling marks. The sheath is very good and shows mild wear.
Estimate: 1,500 - 2,500
LOT 1489
Large British Raj Made Bowie Style Hunting Knife with Latching Sheath - Manufactured c. the late 19th century to early
20th century, knives such as this would have been a valued item for a British sportsman or military officer while venturing in India during the
colonial period. “The Sportsman’s Book for India” published in 1904 states that these Indian-made knives were more desirable for sportsmen than knives of English make, as the steel of English knives was very hard and “difficult to get re-sharpened in out-of-the-way places.” This example measures 16 1/4 inches overall, with a 10 5/8 inch clip point
blade that is unmarked. The guard is iron with circular finials, iron pommel with lanyard hole, and smooth hardwood grip scales with a leather wrapping. The
leather wrapped scabbard has iron fittings including a locking mechanism which interfaces with a small hole in the guard.
CONDITION: Fine, the iron components mostly bright with some scattered patches of light oxidation/pitting and some mild polishing/sharpening evidence
on the blade. The grip is also fine with mild wear and a slight separation of the seam near the pommel. Scabbard leather shows mild wear.
394 Estimate: 1,100 - 1,600
LOT 1486
Factory Engraved James Woodward & Sons Hammer Double Rifle with Case - Serial no. 4120, 450 3 1/4 cal., 27 inch solid rib bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Manufactured between
1886 and 1891 according to the information on page 133 of Nigel Brown’s “British