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LOT 1342
Gold Inlaid and Game Panel Scene Engraved M. Mach Underlever Side by Side Shotgun - Serial no. 3060, 14 gauge, 27 7/8 inch solid rib bbl., bright/gold finish, walnut stock. This stunning double barrel shotgun by Matthias Mach (1814-1877) of Prague has etched Damascus barrels with a brass bead front sight, “M. MACH IN PRAG” in gold inlay with small scroll accents on the rib, and gold inlaid scroll designs at the breech ends. The action,
locks, and furniture are also gold inlaid and feature highly
detailed game scenes. The right lock has a pair of foxes with a rabbit in their mouths and
“M. MACH” in a banner. The left lock has “IN PRAG” in a banner and a scene of two dogs pursuing a boar. The left side of the action has a pair of dogs taking down a stag, the bottom
has a hunter scaling a rock face, the lever has a pair of grouse, and the right side has a pair of stags. The buttplate has a bird on the heel and the serial number on the back along with
engraving and checkering. The figured stock and forend are checkered, and the former has a horn grip cap. CONDITION: Very good with crisp engraving, bright original gold inlays, distinct Damascus patterns, mostly silver-gray patina throughout, an
absent sling swivel from the bottom of the barrel rib, and some oxidation concentrated on the buttplate. The refinished wood is good and has partially smoothed checkering, some minor dings and scratches, small insect holes on the horn, and some minor loss at the edges of the forend. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 1343
Fine Game Panel Scene Engraved and Gold Inlaid Heinrich Knecht Retailed J. P. Sauer & Sohn Sidelever Hammer Drilling with Relief Carved Stock - Serial no. 40073, 12/11.15x65 gauge, 27 1/2inch solid rib bbl., brown/gold/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Browned Damascus steel barrels with beaded blade front and replacement flip up rear sights
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on the matted solid rib, “DREILAEUFER-SYSTEM J. P. SAUER & SOHN SUHL.” marked on
both barrels, gold inlaid line work at either breech, and 65mm (2 1/2 inch) shotgun chambers
with extractor. The casehardened action with backaction locks is decorated with extensive floral scrollwork surrounding “H. KNECHT ST. GALLEN” on either side for Heinrich Knecht, a gunsmith and retailer in St. Gallen and Zurich from 1884-1898. The action is opened using the sidelever, and the blued
toplever is the barrel selector. The decoration continues with five individual game scenes consisting of a group of roebucks on the left of the action, a
dog running a boar on the left lockplate, a roebuck bust on the triggerguard, a pointer getting ready to flush on the right lockplate, and a pair of capercallies on the right of the action, all of which are finely detailed and bordered in gold inlay. Beautifully figured, multi-point checkered and floral carved forend with engraved fittings and Deeley latch release. The round knob
pistol grip stock shares the same carving in place of checkering and features a shadowline cheekpiece, carved capercallie scene on the right, cartridge trapdoor with a gold bordered red stag and scrollwork, and a carved horn heel plate with the standing figure of Dame Helvetia. Length of pull 14 1/16 inches. Weight 8 lbs. 2 oz. CONDITION: Very good, retaining most of the refinished applied brown finish on the barrels, smooth silver patina on the action and locks with areas of tiny discoloration, a few external dings in the rifle barrel, and some light handling evidence. The reoiled stock is also very good with a few dings and scratches, some wear to the forend checkering and relief carving. Mechanically excellent.
LOT 1344
Fine Game Scene Embellished and Gold Inlaid G. Fradagrada Double Barrel Hammer Shotgun with Relief Carved Stock - NSN, 12 gauge, 28 inch solid rib bbl., blue/casehardened/gold finish, relief carved walnut stock. Damascus steel barrels with a single bead sight on the solid rib, “LONDON” stamped on the underside of the lug, and a single extractor. The casehardened backaction has been converted from pinfire to centerfire, leaving the external
hammers in place to cock the firing pins housed
within the action. The action is deeply relief chiseled with nine vignettes
across the metal surfaces with game scenes on the action and triggerguard and a sporting trophy involving a mounted fox head above an array of arms and a rifle, sword, and hunting horn on the lower tang. The underlever is signed on the inner surface “G. Fradagrada in Lodi” for Milan based gunsmith Giacomo Fradagrada who operated a shop starting in 1867. The engraving is accented by small tasteful areas of gold inlay. Attractively figured straight grip stock with carved vinework and game scenes on either side and smooth steel
buttplate. Stock measurements: 1 7/8 inch drop at comb; 3 inch drop at heel; 14 1/2 inch length of pull; weight 6 lbs. 13 oz. CONDITION: Very good, showing an attractive patination over the metal surfaces with crisp engraving, a few spots of minor oxidation, and light overall handing evidence. The wood is also very good with some dings and scratches and crisp carving. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500