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LOT 1313
Incredible Engraved R.B. Rodda 4 Bore Double Barrel Rotary Underlever Dangerous Game Hammer Rifle with Case - Serial no. 20676, 4 bore cal., 24 inch solid rib bbl., brown/casehardened/blue finish, walnut stock. Representing the ultimate stopping power for the well-heeled Victorian hunter, enormous rifles such as this found favor in India. Manufactured
in circa 1880-85 and retailed by the famous firm of R.B. Rodda & Co. from their Calcutta premises, such a grand and expensive rifle would no doubt have found its way into the armoury of a discerning noble or Maharaja.
Of considerable weight to aide with the recoil, this
rifle has browned Damascus twist barrels respectively signed in gold “R.B. Rodda & Co. Gun Makers. to H.E. the Viceroy” and “& H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh. London
& Calcutta” towards each breech end, each breech end with a thin engraved band of stylized running foliage. A broad raised rib extends to a doll’s head at the breech end, is matted with engraved panels of fine chevron patterned checkering, and fitted with a bead front sight and blued rear sight of three folding leaves each with platinum inlaid center line and respectively calibrated from “100” to “200” yards. Casehardened border and scroll engraved action with carved percussion fences and Jones patent rotary underlever. The casehardened back action non-rebounding locks each have a blued safety catch, are engraved en suite with the action
and signed “R.B. Rodda & Co.” in gold. The remaining furniture comprising casehardened forearm with
cross bolt fastener, blued trigger guard,
turned dark horn grip cap, sling eyes and
blued iron buttplate engraved with a
large panel of checkering and the loading instruction “SHOT WITH SPHERICAL BALL/
CHARGE OF POWDER 9 DRS/CURTIS &
HARVEY’S NO. 6”. The flats of the barrels
and water table are struck with London
black powder proof marks. Straight grain
14 1/4 inch pistol grip stock with checkered
grip and forearm and large blank silver oval
initial escutcheon. Weight 20 lbs 13 oz. The
rifle comes with a recent eel skin covered brass cornered oak fitted case lined in dark purple
velvet, the lid with reproduction printed R.B.
Rodda trade label, and a set of accessories, among them brass ball mold, brass bullet mold, brass cartridge extractor, casehardened mainspring clamp, takedown cleaning rod, brass snap caps, five assorted containers, wad cutter, powder measure, three screwdrivers, wrench and brush. Together with a framed printed advert for R.B. Rodda from “The Oriental Sporting Magazine” dated June 1868, Thad Scott letters from 1982 indicating he had purchased “what I consider to be the finest pair of 4 bores in existence” and describing this rifle and its mate, advertisements for the pair, and information on these rifles and their accessories being in the Chuck Swinehart collection.