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B) Johann Jacob Behr Enclosed Lock Sporting Gun - NSN, 16 gauge, 44 inch part octagon bbl., fire blue/bright/gold finish, relief carved walnut stock. See “A.”
CONDITION: Extremely fine with 70% of the original fire blue remaining on the barrel, gray patina to the right of the breech, bright lock and barrel tang, strong gilt finish and aged patina to the mounts, distinct designs throughout, and minor overall wear from age. The stock is very fine and has distinct molding and carving, age related minor dings and scratches throughout, and old spliced repairs to the right side of the butt, possibly from manufacture. Mechanically excellent. This is a very rare pair of sporting guns with distinctive enclosed locks. True pairs of early sporting guns, let alone very fine pairs from sought-after makers such as Johann Jacob Behr, are very hard to find.
Provenance: The Grand Dukes of Saxe- Weimar; The Norman R. Blank Collection. Estimate: 18,000 - 30,000
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