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LOT 3519
Engraved Gold Inlaid A.H. Fox
CE Grade Double Barrel 16 Gauge
Shotgun - Serial no. 303165, 16 gauge, 26 inch solid rib
bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Dual bead sights on the matte,
concave rib, standard barrel markings, 2 3/4 inch chambers, automatic ejectors,
and improved cylinder/modified (.007/.018) chokes. The barrels have wedges of light
scroll engraving at the breech. The receiver has full coverage floral and scroll engraving with detailed game bird and dog scenes. There is a pair of woodcock on the right, quail on the left, and
a retriever dog on the underside. Each bird and the dog are rendered in fine semi-relief gold inlay with a gold wire border around the dog. Nicely figured, English walnut, fancy checkered beavertail forearm and pistol grip stock with serrated hard rubber buttplate. Barrel and stock measurements are: bore diameter at 9
inches from breech .666/.673 inch; minimum wall thickness .028/.028 inch; drop at comb 1 5/8 inches; drop at heel 2 5/8 inches; length of pull 14 1/4 inches.
CONDITION: Very fine as professionally embellished and refinished with 97% plus blue finish remains on the barrels with some light dings and some small forearm marks. The receiver has 70% dark case colors with sharp engraving, brilliant gold inlays, and small dings and scratches on the trigger guard. The wood is also fine with a few small chips
around the trigger guard tang, well-defined checkering, and numerous dings and scratches throughout. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 7,000 - 11,000
LOT 3520
Outstanding Game Scene Engraved and Gold Inlaid Emil Flues
20 Gauge Boxlock Double Barrel Shotgun - NSN, 20 gauge, 26
1/4 inch solid rib bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Blued Krupp Fluid Steel
barrels with a single white bead sight on the smooth concave solid rib which as a single
inlaid gold bar near the breech, light engraving at either breech, and chambers measured 2 3/4 inches with
automatic ejectors. The casehardened sideclipped scalloped action displays beautifully cut floral scroll engraving
over a matted background with a pair of relief gold pheasants on the left side and another pair of pheasants on the right side both sides with grass at their feet. The fantastic scroll continues onto the toplever, triggerguard, and both tang. The top
of the action is marked “E. F. FLUES MAKER BUFFALO, N.Y.” in a banner for the Emil Flues of Ithaca Flues Model fame, who built this and other outstanding gun as an independent gunsmith while working out of his shop in Buffalo, NY and built guns for Bill Cody, Tom Mix, and Emperor of Ethiopia Hailie Selassie. Selassie reportedly commissioned the gun for a whopping $3,000 in the 1920s, and picked the gun up from Flues personally, and as the legend goes he rode in a freight car to Buffalo on a pile of cabbages as he was not allowed to ride in the passenger cabins due to the color of
his skin, even with his royal status. The gun features bushed firing pins, double triggers, and a tang mounted manual safety switch. Beautifully contrasting, highly figured, multi-point checkered splinter forend with matching engraved fittings, ebony tip inlay, and Deeley latch release along with the pistol grip stock featuring teardrop carved flats, blank gold inscription shield, and hard rubber grip cap and buttplate. Barrel and stock
measurements (R/L): bore diameter nine inches from the breech .616/.615 inches; choke constriction .005/.014 inches; minimum wall thickness .031/.028 inches; 1 1/2 inch drop at comb; 2 1/2 inch drop at heel; 14 3/8 inch length of pull; slight cast-on; weight 6 lbs. 3 oz.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 98% refinished blue with some turning to a plum/brown hue, strong traces of original case colors on the action mostly in the protected areas, a few scattered minor dings including one at the left muzzle, and light handling evidence. The lightly refurbished wood is also very fine with some high edge wear, some pressure marks and scratches, and sharp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 7,000 - 10,000
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