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LOT 251
Very Fine Engraved Thomas Elsworth Mortimer 15 Bore Double
Barrel Percussion Sporting Shotgun with Case and Accessories - Serial no. 5832, 15 Bore gauge, 28 inch bbl., brown/
casehardened/blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in circa 1850. With browned Damascus barrels signed “T.E. MORTIMER EDINBURGH, LATE ST.
JAMES ST. LONDON” on the concave rib. Casehardened border and scroll engraved
patent breeches each with platinum plug. Casehardened border and scroll engraved
standing breech and side locks, the latter each signed “T.E. MORTIMER, GEORGE ST.” Blued
furniture including butt plate with long tang and trigger guard each with border and scroll
engraving. Well-figured walnut half stock with checkered grip and forearm. Original brass
mounted ramrod. In associated oak fitted case lined in green baize, the lid with Thomas
Elsworth Mortimer printed trade label, and numbered to gun “5865”. With
accessories including leather wrapped Bartram powder flask, leather shot flask
with shield shaped escutcheon plate to one side, wad punch, oiler, large square
glass oil bottle, turnscrews and two shot chargers.
CONDITION: Very fine with 80% of the rebrowned finish remaining with some
spotting and clear markings. The breech, locks, and hammers retain 70% of the
original casehardened finish with the trigger plate and ramrod insert having
mostly a smooth grey patina. The trigger guard and butt plate retain 50% of their
original vibrant blue finish with most of the finish loss on the butt plate with some areas of discoloration. The refreshed wood is very good with numerous scratches and dings, well-defined checkering, and some discoloration. The case is very fine with several handling scratches and staining on the exterior and some Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 252
Fine & Rare Engraved William Greener Double Barrel Percussion Sporting Cape Gun with Extra Shotgun Barrels - Serial no. 4017, 14 bore gauge, 31 inch bbl., brown/casehardened/blue finish, walnut
stock. William Greener (1806-1869) was the father of W.W. Greener and the first of the world famous Greener
gunmaking dynasty. He was an innovative gunmaker, enjoyed the patronage of Prince Albert, authored “The
Gun”, “The Science of Gunnery” and “Gunnery in 1858”, and won two first class gold medals at the famous 1851
Great Exhibition of London at Crystal Palace and two medals at the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations held
in New York in 1853. He perfected the two-groove “Cape” rifle in 1858 following a request from the well known
South African firm of John Hayton based in Grahamstown. With browned Damascus twist combination barrels,
the right smoothbore and of 14 gauge, the left rifled and of 30 bore, with raised concave rib signed “WILL.M
GREENER. MAKER BY APPOINTMENT TO H.R.H. PRINCE ALBERT” and with brass front sight and scroll engraved folding two leaf rear sight, each barrel engraved with scrollwork around the rear sight. Casehardened patent breeches each with platinum plug engraved with a rosette and a spray of scroll engraving on the
rib. The browned Damascus twist smoothbore barrels of 14 gauge and signed “WILLIAM GREENER’S. LAMINATED STEEL. INDESTRUCTIBLE BY GUNPOWDER”
on the concave rib which also bears the bead front sight. The breech end of the rib and the casehardened patent breeches each engraved with scrollwork,
the breeches each with platinum plug engraved with a rosette. Each pair of barrels with London proof marks, the smoothbore barrels with barrelsmith’s
name “T. KILBY”, and each with own brass mounted ramrod, that with the combination barrels with matching serial number. Scroll engraved false breech and casehardened locks, the latter each signed “W. GREENER”. The locks each engraved with two vignettes involving a game bird and a dog, and each with bolster sha half stock with checkered grip and forearm, that latter checkered within a recessed shaped panel. Iron furniture engraved en suite with
the locks including trigger guard decoration on the bow with a vignette of a dog, and with a grip safety engraved “SAFETY/4017”. CONDITION: Very good overall. The combination barrels retain 80% original finish, some scattered corrosion marking and occasional loss of finish (especially to the underside of the breeches), engraving crisp. Breeches retaining 50% original faded casehardened finish with a dark grey patina, engraving crisp. Smoothbore barrels retaining 90% original browned finish, clear engraving, and breeches with 50% original faded casehardened finish with a dark grey patina. Locks with crisp engraving and traces of original casehardened finish in sheltered areas, occasional small patches of discoloration. The stock has numerous scattered age related storage and handling blemishes, checkering slightly flattened. Engraving to furniture crisp, furniture generally with grey aged patina. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.
252 Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
slight tears to the interior.
ped hammers. Figured walnut