December 6-8, 2023 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/6/2023
Circa 1890. Chain Damascus barrels with dovetail lumps, fit with a bead front sight and an express rear sight with 2 leaves, one standing and one folding, regulated for 100 and 200 yards respectively, with silver express lines. Wide, solid, flat rib with file cut matting. Sling stud sweated to underside of rib, with light floral engraving. Action flats with London view and proof marks, 500 EX designation, and serial numbers. Splinter forearm with Anson plunger release is checkered in point pattern, exterior iron engraved with shaded acanthus scroll and a central shell motif at rear; interior stamped with matching serial number. Case colored sidelock action is engraved with nicely cut, minuscule shaded acanthus scrollwork, Grant style fluted fences with florals in the flutes, and signed "STEPHEN GRANT & SONS" on both lockplates. Action flats with London view proof and serial numbers. Double triggers are protected by a flat bottom trigger guard with tang that runs all the way to the pistol grip cap. Automatic safety with "SAFE" inlaid in gold ahead of tab. Pistol grip stock of an attractive, lightly fiddled, tightly straight grained walnut with grip cap engraved with more diminutive scroll and edged with floral strapwork, checkered in point pattern about the wrist with mullered borders, beaded cheekpiece with an accenting incised line. Toe line with sling swivel engraved with floral en suite with other, and a brass plate with a stylized sun with a face peeking over the horizon. Checkered steel buttplate. Housed in a modern Huey leather wrapped case with compartments for gun when disassembled, and French fitted for dusting brush, turn screw, oil bottle, handle for a 3 piece cleaning rod (spare 2 sections stored under barrels), and snapcaps. Charge card in lid indicates use with a 440 grain Woodleigh bullet over 55grains of IMR 4198 and a Federal 215 primer, with a 3.55 OAL. Also included are approximately 100 brass cases for .500 Nitro Express, mixed headstamps. Included is a receipt from Jean Jacques Perodeau regarding some restoration on this rifle, including refinishing the stock and recutting the checkering, and fabricating some small parts. CONDITION: Barrels retain the vast majority of their browning with bold definition to Damascus pattern. Some handling marks throughout from handling and the field, some through to silver, and some thinning and silvering at muzzles and breeches. Forearm is very good, checkering smoothened somewhat by age, with associated random handling marks. One small chip missing at right side, near iron, and one strike at top center. Case color with much, perhaps 15-20%, case colors, mostly in protected areas, with balance a smooth gunmetal grey. Engraving is crisp and nicely cut. Trigger guard also brought back up, slightly softened. Stock is very good as refreshed by Perodeau with some handling marks from the field, a few through the varnish at toe line. Sharp checkering, edges somewhat softened. Mechanically fine, bores are very good with strong rifling and some very mild frosting. Case. Some cases are slightly crushed but appear serviceable. A nice example of one of the quintessential "big bores", aided by the scarcity of Grant double rifles.
Item Dimensions: Case: 30" x 10" x 3 - 1/2"
Accessories
Case and unprimed brass
Drop at Heel
Approx. 2 - 1/4"
Manufacturer
Stephen Grant & Sons
Model
Side Lever Double Rifle