October 30 - November 2, 2018 Firearms, Militaria, & Sporting
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/30/2018
(1951) This handsome, near top of the line, gun has 28" demi-bloc barrels fitted with solid, matted rib. Left ejector housing is engraved "Gebruder Merkel Suhl" and right, "Germany". Bottom barrel is stamped with September 1951 East German proofs. Bottom of barrel is stamped with serial number and "Bohler Stahl". Coin finished double Kersten sidelock OU action features automatic safety, raised rib tumbler end cocking indicators and double triggers (front articulated). Locks are hand detachable in H&H style with lever on right side. Action is engraved with very attractive and well cut large open shaded scroll on bottom where it surrounds makers name and address, on reinforcing bolsters, and on sides of action in front of lockplates. Lockplates are engraved with wonderfully detailed scenes of birds and canines in nicely shaded and detailed settings; a perplexed setter watches as a covey of quail are either flying into the distance or landing and running to his left. Right lockplate portrays wily fox sneaking up on group of three cock and one hen pheasant. One pheasant wants no part of this and is flying off. Trigger guard is also scroll engraved. Interesting, lightly figured and splotchy marbled stump European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14 - 1/4" over horn buttplate with embossed checkering and Merkel logo over 1/4" black spacer. Modified point pattern checkering is at grip behind relief carved acanthus scroll around lockplates. A vacant silver oval is on toe line. Matching slim three piece forend has Deeley release. CONDITION: Excellent, very close to new with evidence of very light field use with only a few minor marks in all original metal surfaces. Thumbpiece of top lever and tang of trigger guard have a hint of silvering. Stocks are excellent, with some light marks and a few scratches, most notably one fairly deep scratch on right side of forend behind checkering. Bores are excellent. Action is tight. Ejectors are in time. MGM40
Barrel Wall Thickness
T .030 B .032
Choke
T .033 (full) B .016 (mod)
Internal Bore Diameter
T .629 B .627