GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
EXCEPTIONALLY FINE, HIGH ORIGINAL CONDITION W. J. JEFFERY "BEST" BOXLOCK EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE WITH ORIGINAL CASE.WJ JEFFERYSXS DBL RIFLE22252333 JefferyMODERN; IVORY(ca 1912) Cal. .333 Jeffery. This elegant, well balanced rifle has 24" chopper lump bbls with large doll''s head extension. Bbls are fitted with quarter rib holding one standing, four folding leaf express rear sight, with standing leaf marked for 200, and other leaves marked through 600 yards. Sunken mid rib is matted, as is rear portion of tall front ramp holding "certifiable antique ivory" bead. Tops of bbls are engraved "W. J. Jeffery & Co. Ltd" and "13 King Street St. James St. London". Bbl flats are stamped with Birmingham nitro proofs for 42 grains of cordite and 250 grain bullet. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with Krupp steel markings, and SNs. Leonard production number "1669" is at rear portion of bottom rib, which has sling eye soldered on. Case hardened, Leonard signature ogee backed, boxlock action features automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold), bushed strikers, and dbl triggers. Action is engraved with near full coverage very well cut open shaded scroll of varying sizes. "W. J. Jeffery & Co Ltd" and "London" are in scrolling ribands on each side. Blued top lever, floorplate, and trigger guard are engraved with matching scroll, with SN on tang which extends to hard rubber grip cap. Well streaked and lightly figured European walnut capped pistol grip buttstock measures 14-1/2" over orig checkered wood butt with steel heel and toe plates engraved en suite with action. Stock features delicately shaped drop points, classic point pattern checkering with mullered borders at grip, and a sling eye, matching that on bbl, as well as a vacant silver oval on toe line. Matching splinter Baker ejector forend has Anson release. Drop at heel: approx 2-5/8", drop at comb: approx 1-13/16". Weight: 8 lbs. 14 oz. LOP: 14-1/2". Orig makers green canvas leather trimmed case with brass corners is embossed "C. E. Gunther. Hawkhurst, Kent" on center of top. "333" is in upper left corner. Interior is lined in burgundy cloth, and has paper Jeffery label in lid. Case contains orig front sight protector, C. Bosswell marked rectangular oil bottle, spare front sight in plastic container, jar of "MOTTY" rifle paste, case straps, and a key with brass tag embossed "C. E. G." and "Rifle 333". Also included are a set of RCBS dies for .333 Jeffery flanged. CONDITION: Excellent, original, as found. Bbls retain over 90% orig blue with some rubs and marks, lightly silvered on sharp edges, thinning on sides from normal hand wear. Orig damascening marks are still on breech ends. Action retains over 80% orig case hardening color, thinning from normal handling around bottom, silvered on fences and beads. Top lever retains nearly all of its orig blue, with a hint of silvering on thumbpiece. Safety button retains nearly all of its fire blue. Floorplate retains over 60% of its orig charcoal blue, the same can be said for trigger guard, which is silvered on edges with blue thinning on grip. Stocks retain nearly all of their orig hand rubbed oil finish with a few light marks and dings, with three or four somewhat deeper marks on butt. Checkering is very lightly worn, still light in color. Bores are superb, with sharp rifling throughout, with almost no evidence of throat erosion. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are strong and in time. Case canvas considerably faded, soiled, and marked, leather trim is a bit ragged and dark. Handle is detached and in case. Interior cloth is fine with some staining and rubs. Partitions are good. Accessories are fine. Dies are excellent. A dynamic fast handling rifle in a caliber esteemed in Africa for its deep penetration. Matching the performance of this cartridge was the goal of Elmer Keith, et al, in designing the .333 OKH. 49940-1 MGM79 (18,000-25,000)