Page 232 - Demo

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LOT 318
Very Fine Deep Chiseled & Engraved Asprey
.222 (Rem.) Double Barrel Sidelock Ejector
Rifle with Case - Serial no. 1429, 222 Rem cal., 24 inch
solid rib bbl., blue/coin/gold finish, walnut stock. This exquisite small bore rifle features blued chopperlump barrels each engraved with a band of stylized foliage at the breech end. The sunken concave rib is signed “Asprey” in gold and engraved “NEW BOND STREET. LONDON” and has a matted quarter rib engraved “CALIBRE .222 REMINGTON” and fitted with a matted blued rear sight of one standing notch sight and three folding leaves graduated to 300 yards, each with gold inlaid center line, and a matted ramp-mounted bead front sight. The bolstered action is signed “Asprey/LONDON” in gold on the underside and has removable firing pin bushings, a long top strap with automatic safety with gold inlaid “SAFE”, articulated front trigger and locks each with a gold lined cocking indicator. The furniture comprises a rolled edge trigger guard with gold inlaid serial number and a dark horn pistol grip cap. The rifle is finely engraved in low relief with foliate scrollwork against a matted ground. The locks and underside of the action have fine deep chiseled panel game scenes; the locks respectively chiseled with a running rabbit and a running
fox and the underside of the action with a scene involving a weasel standing over a dead partridge. The underside of the barrels and water table are struck with London nitro proof marks with the date stamp for 1991, and the underside of the rib is import marked under the forearm. The well-figured walnut semi-pistol grip stock has a raised cheekpiece and
panels of multi-point checkering
on the grip and butt, a blank
gold oval initial escutcheon on
the underside of the butt, and the
checkered forearm with an Anson
push button release. The rifle comes
in a brown leather takedown case lined with
burgundy baize and with leather Asprey label with gilt lettering inside the lid and an Asprey marked oiler. Length of pull 15 1/16 inches. Weight 7 lbs. 8 oz.
CONDITION: Very fine. The barrels retain near 100% blued finish, and the action, locks and furniture are in factory fresh condition. The engraving and chiseled panel scenes are crisp, and the stock has sharp checkering and crisp drop points with only very minor storage and handling blemishes. Mechanically excellent. The case is very good with minimal minor storage wear on the exterior.
Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.
Estimate: 30,000 - 50,000