December 6-8, 2023 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/6/2023
George Hoenig is famous for developing the Rotary Round Action, which encapsulates the action in a cylinder for easy assembly and disassembly, as well as being unbelievably durable due to the massive locking lugs and in-line construction of the action and barrels, which does not apply torque to the action. Hoenig no longer builds, and when he did, production was strictly limited to 5 guns a year, and double rifles were $27,500. This example is an over/under double rifle chambered in .30-40 Krag and regulated for use with 180 grain bullets, as marked on top of the quarter rib. Front sight is a bead on island with a finely matted ramp, while rear is a Hoenig express regulated for 100 yards. Sling swivel studs on bottom barrel and at toe line. 2-piece walnut forearm with point pattern checkering. Cylindrical action is engraved with flowing acanthus scroll, with lined borders and singed "G. HOENIG / EMMETT, ID" on left side, "PATENTED / SER. NO. 43" on right, and "GH" monogram in recess at top. Very clever Hoenig QD scope mounts fit directly into dovetails and use a compressed coil spring to firmly attach; rings are currently mounted with a Leupold Vari-X III 1.5-5 scope with duplex reticle. Action with serial number on breech face, and engraved with well-cut diminutive scroll. Trigger guard engraved en suite and protecting double triggers. 2 position safety lever at wrist with "F" in red and "S" in green, engraved with scroll en suite. Pistol grip stock of a heavily marbled, reddish walnut with point pattern checkering at the wrist, and fit with a trap in the pistol grip that contains an extra front sight, a shadowline cheekpiece for a right handed shooter, and a Decelerator recoil pad. Housed in the correct Americase with green baize lining, George Hoenig branding in lid, and compartmentalized to hold rifle when disassembled, test target, extra set of sling swivels, and scope mount. CONDITION: Overall excellent, retaining virtually all of the factory finishes with some very minor marks from handling and light field use. Barrels are excellent with some minor handling marks. Action excellent with some handling marks, some discoloration around right side of the scope mount attachment point. Stocks excellent with some light handling marks from the field, most noticeable at the front of the pistol grip where there's a small splotch to the wood, probably from a ring worn while shooting. Mechanically fine, bores are very good with strong rifling. Case and accessories fine, glass is clear. These rifles are extremely desirable not only due to their technical qualifications, but their mechanical artistry is unsurpassed, and is unlikely to be, as George died in recent years.
Manufacturer
George Hoenig