GUN SPRING 2018
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/21/2018
FLAMBOYANT GOLD INLAID 28 GAUGE SIDELOCK EJECTOR LIGHT GAME SHOTGUN BY JOHN WILKES WITH CASE.JOHN WILKESSxS1521528W/CASE, ACCESSMODERNCal. 28 ga. 2-3/4" Chambers. 27" Chopper lump bbls are gold inlaid "John Wilkes" and engraved "79. Beak Street. London. W.1" on narrow swamped game rib. Breech ends of bbls are scroll engraved with central stems of scroll gold inlaid. Bbl flats are stamped with 1986 London nitro proofs for 2-3/4" chambers. Bbls are fitted with H&H type self opening assist spring. Case hardened action with automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold), gold band tumbler end cocking indicators, and gold-plated dbl triggers, is engraved in rose and well cut scroll. Rose bouquets have been relief gold inlaid. Fillets outlining action beads are also inlaid in gold and feather engraved. Outlines of locks and left side of trigger guard bow, are gold inlaid in rope motif. "John Wilkes" is in flush gold on each lockplate, as well as on bottom of action over "London". Workmanship of this engraving is of very high caliber, and most likely done by long term Wilkes gunmaker and engraver, Craig Whitsey (no signature found). Single beaded trigger guard has rose and scroll on bow, and SN on tang. Well fiddle figured and lightly streaked European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 15" over checkered wood butt, and features drop points, point pattern checkering on slightly diamond hand, and a gold oval on toe line engraved "J C C E T". Matching splinter ejector forend has Anson release. Bore diameter: left -.550, right - .547. Bore restrictions: left - .020 (full), right - .011 (mod). Drop at heel: 2-3/16", drop at comb: 1-5/16". Cast: neutral. Weight: 5 lbs. 6 oz. LOP: 15". Makers brown VC leather case with stitched leather corners is lined in burgundy cloth, and has gold embossed black leather Wilkes label in lid, along with charge card for this gun. Case contains some gold plated accessories including snap caps, oil bottle; other accessories include horn handled chamber brush and pull through field cleaning kit. CONDITION: Excellent, very near new, with only one or two of the lightest of handling and assembly marks on wood and metal. Fired very little, with very faint halos on breech face. Bores are excellent. Mechanically excellent. Case is very fine to excellent, with some rubs and scuffs. Interior is excellent. 53177-10 mgm144 (30,000-40,000)