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two folding leaves each with platinum inlaid center line and graduated to 250 yards. Casehardened border engraved action with removable firing pin bushings, blued automatic safety with gold inlaid “SAFE”, blued sidelever with finely checkered thumb catch, casehardened trigger plate and blued trigger guard. Casehardened border engraved sidelocks each signed “HENRY ATKIN”. The underside of the barrels and water table struck with
London proof marks. Figured 14 5/8 inch walnut pistol grip stock with raised cheek piece, grooved butt, panels of multipoint checkering to the grip and forearm, the former with casehardened cap, the latter with blued lever release. The underside of the butt with blank silver oval initial escutcheon and blued sling mount, the corresponding sling mount fitted beneath the barrel. Includes a period brass cornered oak and leather case marked “A.C.R” with green baize interior and leather maker’s label. Weight 8 lbs. 12 oz.
CONDITION: Very fine. The barrels retain nearly all of the reblued finish with crisp signature. Action, locks and grip cap retain 90% original bright casehardened finish, engraving
crisp. Stock has some scattered age related storage and handling blemishes throughout, checkering and drop points well defined. The case is very fine with various handling marks and replacement leather straps. The original interior has a few light scuffs with tears, and the label has a few light marks on the edges. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.
This small gauge English shotgun was manufactured in circa 1927
during the so-called “Golden Age” of British gunmaking. The
blued barrels are each engraved with a band of stylized foliage
at the breech end, and the narrow concave rib is signed “E.J.
CHURCHILL, GUNMAKERS LTD. 3 AGAR STREET. STRAND. LONDON
W.C.2.” and is fitted with a bead front sight. Import marked under the forearm. The casehardened action is signed “E.J. CHURCHILL” on each side and has a blued toplever, an automatic safety with silver inlaid “SAFE”, a blued cover plate, a blued trigger guard, and fine scrollwork engraved throughout.
The figured straight hand stock has a checkered butt, grip and forearm; a
blued Anson push button release on the forearm, and a blank silver oval
initial escutcheon on the underside of the butt. It comes in a fitted leather
case lined in red baize with some cleaning rod heads and a chamber
brush. Birmingham nitro reproof marks. Barrel and stock measurements
(R/L): chambers proved at 2 1/2 inches; bore diameter 9 inches from the breech
reproved at .626/.615 inches and measured at .630/.623 inches; choke constriction
.009/.031 inches; minimum wall thickness .021/.024; 1 91/16 inch drop at comb; 2
inch drop at heel; 14 15/16 inch length of pull; cast-off; weight 5 lbs 6 oz.
CONDITION: Very good. The barrels retain near all of the reblued finish and have a softened rib signature. The
right barrel has worn proof marks. The action retains 60% faded original casehardened finish and has crisp
engraving. The toplever, cover plate, and trigger guard each retain near all of the reblued finish and some
softening to engraving. It has been expertly restocked, and the wood has crisp checkering and only occasional minor
storage and handling blemishes. Mechanically excellent. The restored case is very good has a pleasing dark aged patina, the ends of the case restored with replacement dark leather, replacement straps, and relined interior.
Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.
374 Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 1547
Very Fine & Rare Engraved Henry Atkin .450/.400 Black Powder Express) Double Barrel Sidelever Sidelock Ejector
Rifle with Case - Serial no. 1169, 450/400 cal., 26 inch bbl., blue/ casehardened finish, walnut stock. The makers have kindly confirmed that this rifle was
completed in 1898 with the sidelever configuration lending particularly clean lines to this elegant double rifle. With blued barrels with solid flat rib signed “HENRY ATKIN (FROM PURDEY’S) 2 JERMYN STREET HAYMARKET LONDON” and fitted with bead front sight and rear sight of one standing notch sight and
Estimate: 6,000 - 9,000
LOT 1548
Fine Engraved E.J. Churchill
20 Bore Double Barrel Boxlock Ejector
Shotgun with Case - Serial no. 3344, 20 gauge, 28 inch solid rib bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock.