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LOT 1542
Fine Panel Game Scene Engraved W.W. Greener Small Bore Double Barrel “Facile Princeps” Self-Acting Ejector Shotgun - Serial no. 27855, 16 gauge, 27 inch bbl., brown/casehardened/blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in circa 1884 and featuring an elaborate engraving of a hunting scene on the right side of the action depicting a hunter shooting birds with a bridge in the background, and an angler fishing with waterfowl in the foreground and a bridge in the background, the underside of
LOT 1544
Very Attractive Kynoch Ammunition Cartridge Board - This scarcely encountered Kynoch cartridge board displays the full range of ammunition produced by the company from the tiny .22 caliber No. 1 caps to the venerable .577 Snider along with the full range of shot shells including paper and
the action with vignettes of birds including two peacocks and the whole framed with tight scrollwork. With browned barrels
each engraved with sprays of foliage at the breech end, and with concave rib and bead sight,
signed “W.W. GREENER. 68 HAYMARKET LONDON” in gold script, and engraved “PATENT WEDGE FAST No. 3084” at the rib extension with self acting ejectors. Action with serpentine fences, Greener patent cross bolt, blued toplever,
“Jumping Jack” hold-open pin and signed “W.W. GREENER” on each side. Blued Greener patent side mounted safety catch with gold inlaid “SAFE”, and blued trigger guard. The underside of the barrels and water table each with Birmingham “Not For Ball” black powder proof marks and nitro reproof marks, the water table struck with a Greener “Elephant” trademark, “W.W. GREENER PATENT No. 930” (Greener’s 1880 patent for the Facile Princeps action) and “J.N. PATENT 614”. Well figured 14 1/4 inch straight hand stock with carved drop points, checkered grip and forearm within shaped panels, the latter with Deeley & Edge fastener and dark horn tip, and checkered dark horn butt plate. The underside of the butt with gold oval initial escutcheon engraved with a monogram. Proved at 17.3mm/17.5mm, measuring 17.5mm/17.5mm, 2 1/2 inch (65mm) chambers, minimum wall thickness 0.019/0.028. Weight 6 lbs. CONDITION: The engraving to the action remains crisp and delightfully detailed. The barrels retain nearly all of their dark rebrowned finish, engravings softened on the rib and worn on the barrels, gold signature in very good condition. The action is a light grey patina, the trigger guard, safety and toplever have been reblued. The stock has been re-oiled with well defined checkering. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection. Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 1543
Engraved W.W. Greener
10 Bore Double Barrel
Toplever Hammer Shotgun -
Serial no. 21667, 10 gauge, 32 inch bbl., brown/casehardened/blue finish, walnut
stock. The makers have kindly confirmed that this gun was completed as part of
a large batch of 10 bore wildfowling guns on June 17, 1880 with 32 inch barrels.
With browned Damascus barrels engraved with a band of stylized running foliage
at the breech ends. Concave rib with bread front sight, signed “W.W. GREENER. 68
HAYMARKET LONDON” and with doll’s head extension engraved with a shell. The action has
carved percussion fences and blued toplever, the water table is stamped “PATENT No. 3090” (Greener, September
9, 1874) and has the Greener “Elephant” trademark. Rebounding side locks each with sculpted hammer and signed “W.W. GREENER”. Furniture comprising trigger guard and butt plate, the last with shaped panel. Border and scroll engraved throughout. The barrels struck with Birmingham “Not For Ball” black powder proof marks, Birmingham nitro reproof marks and Greener “Elephant” trademarks. Figured 14 1/4 inch pistol grip stock with checkered grip and forearm, the latter with Deeley & Edge fastener. The underside of the butt with blank initial oval, and underside of the butt and barrels fitted with sling eyes, the front eye being a recent replacement. Weight 10 lbs.
CONDITION: Barrels with clear Damascus twist pattern and retaining nearly all of the rebrowned finish, signature clear but softened. Action and side locks with dull grey patina, engraving clear. Stock with age staining, numerous storage and handling marks, checkering worn, especially on forearm, grip cap made as a separate piece with visible join. Horn forearm tip missing. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.
372 Estimate: 2,000 - 3,500
brass. The board reads “MANUFACTURERS OF CORDITE/SOLE MAKERS AND PATENTEES OF THE/’GROUSE’/’PERFECT’ AND/PERFECTLY GASTIGHT’ CASES,/ANVILS,/WADDINGS,/FOG SIGNALS, PERCUSSION CAPS & c.” There is also a large “KYNOCH’S” banner with the subtext “CONTRACTORS/TO/H. M. ADMIRALTY &/ WAR DEPARTMENT.” The main body displays the cartridges along with two stands of flags, a large crest, and illustrations of the five Kynoch facilities flanked above and below by “MILITARY & SPORTING AMMUNITION” and “G. KYNOCH & Co. Ltd. BIRMINGHAM.”The board measures (including the frame) 27 1/2 x
38 1/2 inches.
CONDITION: Very fine overall, the board retains all of the cartridges and shows attractive coloration with a few pin prick type holes, a few tears above the shot shells, and some slight discoloration in the white. The frame show some slight separation at the corners and light general storage/
display evidence.
Estimate: 6,500 - 11,000