April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/24/2019
(1955) This fine, top of the line, shotgun has 28" demi-bloc barrels with solid matted rib. Makers name and address are on left side of top barrel. Rear portion of top barrel at ejector housings are engraved with well cut shaded oak leaves and acorns. Barrels are stamped with August 1955 East German nitro proofs for 2 - 3/4" chambers. Coin finished double Kersten over/under sidelock action features automatic safety, raised rib tumbler end cocking indicators, and single selective trigger with selector button on right side of trigger. Action is engraved with near full coverage nicely shaded oak leaves and acorns with some geometric borders. Lockplates are nicely engraved with game and canines; pointer pointing quatro of flushing quail (?) in rural setting on left lockplate, and a bemused fox at center of four ducks erupting from a marshy area on right lockplate. Blued trigger guard and top lever are also engraved with acorns and oak leaves. Very attractive lightly streaked flame figured European walnut capped pistol grip buttstock measures 14" over horn embossed Merkel buttplate. Butt transitions to grip with chinstrap, and has very nicely carved oak leaves and acorns behind lockplates, transitioning to closely spaced grip checkering. Matching three piece ejector forend has Deeley release. CONDITION: Excellent, as partially refinished. Barrels retain nearly all of a very fine quality rust blue, necessary because of some minor staining and oxidation, mostly along rib. Action retains nearly all of its original coin finish. Top lever and trigger guard show some silvering at normal wear points. Stocks retain nearly all of what appears to be their original hand rubbed oil finish, with some light marks. Checkering lightly worn. Bores are excellent. Left side of front barrel lump galled at one time, due to very close fit and improper lubrication. Area has been polished. Action is tight. Barrels are on face. Mechanically fine. Trigger appears to work well. A very classy high end Merkel. MGM139.
Barrel Wall Thickness
(O) .036 (U) .034
Choke
(O) .018 (Modified) (U) .007 (Improved Cylinder)
Internal Bore Diameter
(O) .726 (U) .726
Length of Pull
14" cast off 1/4"