Page 301 - 4094-BOOK3

299
LOT 3488
Desirable Factory Engraved John Rigby & Co. 1879
Patent Rising Third Bite Sidelock Dangerous Game Double Rifle
in .450 Nitro Express - Serial no. 16798, 450 Express cal., 28 inch solid rib bbl., blue/
casehardened finish, walnut stock. The maker’s records confirm that this best quality
toplever hammerless non-ejector double rifle was completed in 1901 for the Hon. G. Baring with 28
inch barrels and chambered for .450 special smokeless cartridges. The Hon. G. Baring mentioned is most likely
Guy Victor Baring, Member of Parliament for Winchester. The was the son of Alexander Hugh Baring, Fourth Baron Ashburton, and
his family was connected with Barings Bank. The Second Baron Ashburton established the Ashburton Shield in 1861, a prize still competed for to this day at the U.K. National
Rifle Association’s annual Schools’ Meeting at Bisley. Guy V. Baring was educated at Eton and the Royal Military College and Sandhurst and served primarily in the Coldstream
Guards in Africa. He was a special service officer in the Jubaland Expedition in 1901, the same year the rifle was completed, and this rifle would have been well-suited for
hunting dangerous African game. He rose to the rank of captain the following February and was elected to Parliament in 1906 and 1910 and officially left the Coldstream Guards
in 1913. With the outbreak of World War I, he rejoined. The Coldstream Guards were among the first to arrive in France and suffered heavy losses
throughout the war. Baring rose through the ranks and took command of the First Battalion after the Battle of Loos in 1915. As the lieutenant colonel in
command of the First Battalion at the Battle of the Somme, he was killed in action during an assault on September 15, 1916.
The rifle was built with blued steel barrels featuring a beaded blade front sight and three leaf (one standing, two folding) rear sight on the matted solid
rib which is signed “John Rigby & Co. 72. St. James’s St. London”. “SPECIAL 450 BORE BIG GAME RIFLE.” and “FOR SPECIAL CORDITE CARTRIDGES AND
BULLET 480 Grs.” engraved on the left and right barrel respectively, front sling swivel, lovely scroll engraving around the breech, single extractor, and
period London nitro proof marks on the flats including the 3 1/4 inch marking. The barrels are fitted to the casehardened rising third bite action which
is marked “R&B/Patent 1141/8800” on the standing breech for the Rigby & Bisell rising third bite patent no. 1141 of March 21, 1879. The action displays
extensive highly attractive scroll engraving surrounding Rigby signatures on either dipped edge lockplate before continuing onto the toplever, triggerguard,
and both tangs. The rifle features bushed firing pins, double triggers, and a tang mounted automatic safety with gold inlaid “SAFE” indicator. The rifle is fitted to a beautifully figured and multi-point
checkered forend with Rigby patent release and engraved fittings as well as a pistol grip stock with teardrop carved flats, horn grip cap, rear sling button, and Silver’s rubber recoil pad. Included is a
copy of the Special Customs Invoice indicating that the rifle was sold to Norman Blank by James Purdey & Sons of London and sent to him on July 7, 1966. Length of pull 15 1/2 inches. Weight
11 lbs. 2 oz.
CONDITION: Very fine as professionally refurbished, retaining 95% blue finish with much of it turned a brown hue, some oxidation towards the muzzle, traces of original case colors on the action with
the majority a fine grey, minor handling evidence, and sharp checkering on the stock and forend. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Norman R. Blank Collection.
Estimate: 9,000 - 15,000
LOT 3489
Factory Engraved Charles Lancaster Jones Underlever Back
Action Oval Bore Hammer Double Rifle - Serial no. 5797, 450 Black
Powder Express cal., 28 inch solid rib bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock.
This rifle was completed in 1887 according to the information on page 121 of Nigel
Brown’s “British Gunmakers Volume One: London”. The
rifle has blued barrels with a blade front sight and a two leaf (one standing, one
folding) rear sight on the matted flat solid rib, “CHARLES LANCASTER. 151 NEW BOND STREET,
LONDON.” and “NON-FOULING SMOOTH OVAL BORE RIFLING” engraved on the left and right
barrels respectively, and period London black powder proof marks ahead of the flats. The barrels
are fitted to the casehardened Jones underlever back action which displays attractive scroll engraving
surrounding “CHARLES LANCASTER, LONDON.” signatures on either side and “CHARLES LANCASTER/PATENT”
on either lockplate. The rifle features non-rebounding hammers, individual hammer safeties, and double triggers. The rifle
is fitted with a nicely figured and multi-point checkered splinter forend with engraved fittings as well as a round knob pistol grip stock raised cheekpiece, blank
inscription oval, and checkered blued steel buttplate. Length of pull 14 3/8 inches. Weight 8 lbs. 1 oz.
CONDITION: Very fine overall as professionally refurbished, retaining 95% blue and casehardened finishes with a patch of loss on the right barrel near the muzzle, some
minor spotting around the breech and on the left lockplate, some wear to the wood varnish, a hole in the stock and forend where sling studs once were, and crisp checkering on the
stock and forend. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Norman R. Blank Collection.
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500