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LOT 507
Magnificent Engraved W. & C. Scott
& Son “Premier Quality” Double Barrel Push Forward Thumb Hole Underlever Hammer Duck Gun - Serial
no. 5010, 10 gauge, 33 3/4 inch bbl., brown/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This superlative quality large gauge duck gun was a technical tour de force when new featuring James Purdey’s first pattern thumb hole underlever (British Patent No. 1104 of May 2, 1863), rebounding lock
mechanisms and reinforced breech sections. With browned Damascus two stage barrels with engraved band at the step in front of the reinforced breech section,
concave rib with bead front sight, signed “W. & C. SCOTT & SON. PREMIER QUALITY. 10, GT. CASTLE ST. REGENT CIRCUS, LONDON”,
with scroll engraved doll’s head extension, and engraved with running bands of stylized foliage at the breech ends. The barrel flats struck with Birmingham black powder proof marks, and the forward
lump engraved with fine scrollwork, marked “U S A/NOV 1 – 1870/PATENT” and with screw head finely pierced with a rosette. Casehardened heavily bolstered action with carved percussion fences, and rebounding bar locks each signed “W. & C. SCOTT & SON”. The thumb activated underlever is fitted through the trigger plate and the trigger guard is swelled and pierced to allow access to the lever. Well figured walnut pistol grip stock with checkered grip and forearm, the former with engraved grip cap and the latter with bolt fastener, and checkered dark horn butt plate. Very fine
border and scroll engraving throughout.
CONDITION: This very rare hammergun retains 98% rebrowned finish to the barrels with some minor loss of finish around the muzzles. The rib signature is clear and crisp. The action, locks and trigger plate each retain 70% original casehardened finish, the trigger guard and grip cap retain traces of faded original casehardened finish. The engraving remains clear and crisp throughout. The stock has well defined checkering with age related storage and handling blemishes and bruises throughout, some deeper marks
around the barrel bolt.
Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 508 Very Rare Antique Engraved Charles Lancaster Oval Bore .500 Black Powder Express Double Barrel Slide-and-Tilt Rotary Underlever Hammer Rifle - Serial no. 3493, 500 Black Powder Express cal., 30 inch solid rib bbl., casehardened/brown/blue finish, checkered walnut stock. The maker’s records confirm that this rifle was completed in 1861 for Sir A. Egerton. With browned Damascus twist barrels signed “CHARLES LANCASTER. 151. NEW BOND STREET. LONDON” and “PATENT SMOOTH BORED BREECH LOADING RIFLE” on the left and right barrel, respectively, stippled raised flat rib with blade front sight, rear sight of one standing and three folding leaves each with gold inlaid center line and graduated from 50 to 200 yards, with the 100 yard folding leaf in front of the standing 50 yard leaf. Barrels struck with London proof marks and barrelsmith’s mark “CL” for Charles Lancaster, and sling stud attached to the lower rib. Casehardened rotary underlever sliding breech action marked “CHARLES LANCASTER’S PATENT” on each side of the action, with conspicuous flat strikers that slide into the fences when fired. Back action side locks each signed “C. LANCASTER PATENT LONDON” on ribbons and fitted with blued safety catches. The action and locks are engraved with fine scroll engraving throughout and the top of the action has an engraved monogram. The trigger guard is engraved with the serial number under the lever and is checkered on the tang. Figured straight hand stock with raised cheek piece, two pins at the head of the stock to mark the hammers at half-cock, checkered grip and forearm, the underside of the butt with blank silver initial escutcheon and checkered steel butt. CONDITION: Fine with 95% of the rebrowned finish remaining on the barrels with slight handling marks and clear markings. The stippling on the rib appears to have been a period field modification. The casehardened action, locks, and trigger guard have turned mostly a dark grey patina with signs of the original casehardened finish. The wood is fine as refinished with scattered handling marks, sharp checkering, and a small repair at the right front of the forend. The rear sling stud is absent and a filler has been added with excess glue remaining. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection. Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 509 Extremely Rare Panel Game Scene Engraved William Needham 15 Bore Double Barrel Self-Priming Percussion Shotgun - Serial no. 774, 15 Bore gauge, 30 inch bbl., brown/ blue finish, walnut stock. This very rare gun incorporates William Needham’s patent of June 24, 1843 (British Patent No. 9801) for a self-priming percussion mechanism. Needham’s design has the percussion primers stored in a tube magazine inset into the butt of the gun where they are fed by gravity into the lock mechanism. The lock feeds a primer into a slotted percussion pillar when the hammer is cocked, the nose of the hammer has a punch which detonates the primer within the slotted pillar on firing. With browned Damascus barrels with raised concave rib signed “WILLIAM NEEDHAM. 26 PICCADILLY LONDON”. Patent breeches each with slotted platinum plug, Needham’s patent large slotted percussion pillars, and engraved with a partridge on the rib section. Standing breech engraved with a further partridge and fine scrollwork. The locks each with stepped tail, signed “W. NEEDHAM’S PATENT” and engraved with panel game scenes and scrollwork. Behind each lock a long strap extends almost to the heel plate. These straps are the primer magazines and each is engraved with foliage, signed “W. NEEDHAM’S PATENT” and has a hinged trap cover towards the rear for loading the primers. Iron furniture including heel plate and trigger guard each engraved with further scrollwork and panel game scenes. Figured walnut half length stock with checkered panels at the grip, a small square silver initial escutcheon is inset at the wrist engraved with a crest and monogram. Brass mounted wooden ramrod with worm. London proof marks. CONDITION: Very good. The barrels retain most of an older rebrowned finish, slight softening to the rib signature. Standing breech, locks, tubular primer magazines and furniture all mostly a grey patina with some discoloration, engraving clear throughout. The tubular primer magazines and the trigger guard each with traces of original blued finish. The stock has numerous age related storage and handling marks throughout, some staining, well defined checkering, and a repaired crack beneath the left lock. Mechanically very good with the unique primer feed mechanism within each lock appearing to function correctly. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection. Estimate: 1,500 - 2,250