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LOT 518
Massive Marcel Thys & Sons 4 Bore Sidelock Dangerous Game Double Rifle - Serial no. 0150, 4 bore cal., 24 3/8 inch solid
rib bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in Belgium by Marcel Thys & Sons, manufacturers of fine quality double rifles and shotguns from 1960 to 2004. The huge blued steel barrels feature a ramped blade front sight and a rear quarter rib with three leaf
(one standing, two folding) rear sight and “M. Thys & Sons, Belgium” inlaid in gold script. The equally massive bolstered sidelock action is unadorned aside from the Belgian proofmarks on the watertable and features double triggers, bushed firing pins, and a tang mounted manual safety switch. Beautifully figured, multi-point checkered beavertail forend with a rotary lever release. The pistol grip stock is of equal beauty and features a blued steel grip cap, teardrop carved flats, raised shadowline cheek piece, and a leather wrapped recoil pad. While 4 bore rifles did eventually get out paced by their nitro powder cousins, rifles such as this are hard to beat on cool factor alone, not to mention the fact that, while maybe not as modern ballistically, they still pack an incredible punch from a shoulder fired rifle and will lay low any quarry on the planet.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 98% original blue finish with scattered minor spotting, a patch of oxidation on the right barrel flat with matching spot on the watertable, and minor handling evidence. There is a pressure mark on the underside of the stock, otherwise the wood is very fine with a few minor handling marks and sharp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 15,000 - 25,000
LOT 519
Rare Engraved John Rigby & Co. .577 Nitro Express Webley 1902 Patent Falling Block Big
Game Rifle - Serial no. 10630, 577 cal., 24 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. A light floral scroll
engraving is featured on the receiver, trigger guard, breech block and lever. The receiver has “JOHN RIGBY
& CO.” engraved in a banner on the left side and the Webley patent details and winged bullet logo on the right side. The barrel
has a 1 7/8 inch sleeve at the muzzle, incorporating the matte block for the blade front sight, block mounted three leaf rear notch sights and London cordite proofs on the left side. The well figured forearm and pistol grip stock have checkering, contrasting forend cap, engraved grip cap, blank initial oval and solid Noshoc recoil pad. According to British single shot rifle expert and author Wal Winfer, “Webley managed less than a handful of [Model 1902 actions] for Rigby in both .470 and .577 towards the end of production in 1911.”
CONDITION: Very good, retaining most of the heavily polished refinished blue over scattered light pitting, some gray on the upper tang, high edge wear, and minor handling marks. The butt has been refinished with minimal minor handling evidence and crisp checkering, the forearm has been replaced. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
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