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LOT 1479
Factory Lisa Tomlin Signed, Master Military Insignia
Engraved, and Gold Inlaid John Rigby & Co. 20 Gauge
Best Sidelock Double Barrel Shotgun with Case - Serial no.
481243, 20 gauge, 26 13/16 inch solid rib bbl., blue/pewter/
gold finish, walnut stock. This shotgun was completed for
the American General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, a legendary
soldier serving in Vietnam, where he was wounded twice, all the
way to leading the Coalition forces through the Gulf War in 1991.
The general was a well-known sportsman with a particular love for
the shotgun, with this gun being a fine example from his collection that was
personally tailored to him through the magnificent embellishments. Built with blued steel
barrels featuring a single brass bead sight on the file cut matted flat solid rib which is marked “John Rigby & Co.” in gold, “PASO ROBLES ,
CA”, and “20 ga 3”’ in gold. The barrels show 1 1/4 inch wedges of highly attractive scroll engraving at either breech, German proof marks
dated 2002 on the flats, chokes marked “VBZ”/”1/2”, and chambers marked 3 inches with automatic ejectors. The barrels are fitted to
the pewter finished sidelock action which features bushed firing pins, cocking indicators on either lockplate, dipped edge lockplates,
sideclips, double triggers, and a tang mounted automatic safety with gold inlaid “SAFE” indicator. The action displays absolutely stunning
floral scroll engraving over a matted background which surrounds a gold inlaid Rigby logo on the blued toplever, the general’s initials
“HN/S” inlaid in gold script on the blued trigger guard, and a trio of gold inlaid insignias. The left lockplate features an expertly executed
Parachutist Badge (“Jump Wings”) with the parachute and star inlaid in gold, a Combat Infantry Badge on the right lockplate with gold
inlaid musket, border, and band on the wreath, and a pair of crossed Model 1795 muskets beneath four stars all inlaid in gold on the
underside for the general’s four star rank. The engraving is signed “L TOMLIN” on the trigger plate to the right of the trigger for American
Master Engraver Lisa Tomlin.
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