June 25-28, 2018 Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/25/2018
Former Churchill production director and author of "The House of Churchill" book, Don Masters, acquired a number of actions and parts with the dissolution of the company, and started to build guns under his name (Masters From Churchill). This is the fourth gun in this series, as related by him in the epilogue of "The House of Churchill". The action and barrels are illustrated in the white on page 463. On page 461, he relates "two years later, Lou ordered a Masters 20 bore, 28" gun No. 004 with Anson & Deeley action, ejectors, and a non-selective single trigger. Both these guns were essentially "Regal" guns." As stated, this gun No. 004 has 28" dovetailed barrels fitted with slightly raised flat matted rib. Tops of barrels are engraved "Masters Gunmakers Ltd" "Cannon Works. Ockley Road. Durking. Surrey. England." Barrel flats are stamped with Birmingham nitro proofs for 2-3/4" chambers. Serial number is engraved on bottom of right barrel. Case hardened ogee backed boxlock action with well filed beads features non-automatic safety and single non-selective trigger. Action is engraved in traditional "Regal" style with 50% coverage well cut scroll with rose bouquet highlights. "MASTERS" is in scrolled ribands on each side. Blued floorplate with more scroll is also engraved with well rendered vignette of woodcock flushing through birch trees. This scene is signed "J. R. Beech". Top lever and double beaded small bow trigger guard are also blued and scroll engraved. Serial number is on trigger guard tang. Attractive, darkly streaked, and well figured European walnut straight grip buttstock with checkered wood butt. Classic point pattern checkering is at grip, and a gold oval engraved "L. B. D." is on toe line. Matching splinter ejector forend has Anson release. Gun is housed in high quality leather case with stitched leather corners,and dark brown canvas outer cover. Outer cover and top of case are embossed with initials "L. B. D." Interior of case is lined in burgundy cloth, and has Masters paper trade label in lid. Case contains cleaning equipment, snap caps, and a round oil bottle. Also in case are two letters, one with invoice for this gun, and the other from the original owner relating its history and hunting venues. This letter has been annotated by a later owner with places where he has used the gun. Also included is a copy of "The House of Churchill" by Don Masters, with more owners notes. Excellent, showing limited field use. Barrels retain nearly all of their original blue with some light marks and high edge wear. Action retains approximately 90% original case hardening color, silvered on fences and along edges of bottom, as well as top tang. There is also slight loss to blue on thumbpiece of top lever, front of trigger plate, and beads, as well as grip of trigger guard. Stocks have a few light marks in their original finish. Both bores are excellent. Action is tight. Ejectors are in time. Trigger works. Case leather is excellent with few marks, as protected by its outer cover, which has a few scuffs. Interior cloth is excellent, with some rubs. Label is very clean. Accessories are excellent. An historically interesting gun which handles exceptionally well.
Accessories
Hard case, Book, Snap caps, cleaning tools, letter
Barrel Wall Thickness
(L) .030 (R) .037
Choke
(L) .008 (IC) (R) .004 (IC)
Internal Bore Diameter
(L) .615 (R) .615
Length Of Pull
14 - 1/8" cast off 3/8"