October 22-23, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/22/2019
(ca 1922) The Owen Brothers rifles are acknowledged to be the earliest of the Owens, are always of the highest quality and profusely engraved. Only about 12 examples are known. This fine lightweight specimen has no rear sight on slim tapered 21 - 3/4" barrel or receiver sight. Sleeved-on front sight ramp is thinned and streamlined, and holds a brass bead. Top of barrel is engraved "Owen Bros. Sauquoit, N. Y." Springfield action has had tang reshaped, and arsenal numbers removed. Trigger is reshaped with blade checkered. Arsenal bottom metal retained. Action is engraved with near full coverage background of well cut shaded scroll highlighted by splashes of semi-relief flowers with four to five petals, which are attributes of Kornbrath's work. The scroll continues 2 - 1/2" onto rear of barrel, and is also found on sides of front sight ramp. Case hardened bolt stop is also scroll engraved and gold inlaid "OFF" and "ON". Bolt body is damascened and handle and shroud are scroll engraved. Bolt knob is checkered in multi-panels. Flag safety is also engraved, and is silver inlaid "READY" and "SAFE". A Lyman folding peep sight is dovetailed through cocking piece. Kornbrath's fine scroll extends to bottom metal where it surrounds superbly detailed full relief game scenes. Floorplate depicts a trio of two hinds and a stag leaping through undergrowth in meadow. Trigger guard bow has wonderful rendering of side-on grizzly bear roaring. Steel buttplate is fully relief engraved with large open shaded scroll with scene on trap depicting a stag roaring in background as his defeated foe slinks away in foreground. Steel trap grip cap is also scroll engraved. Stock of very nicely marbled European walnut has French polish finish, typical of early Owens, and features double shadow line right hand cheekpiece, very well cut closely spaced borderless point pattern checkering at grip and around forend, horn forend tip, and a very early use of what were to become Owen' signature arrowhead drop points. A vacant gold oval and a sling eye matching that soldered to bottom of barrel, are on toe line. Weight: 7 lbs 4 oz. CONDITION: Excellent. All finishes appear to be original with some minor marks and fading of original blue on barrel and action. Blue on bolt faded to grey brown. Case hardening on bolt stop and shroud is quite bright. Bottom metal originally case hardened has silvered considerably with lots of color showing inside bow and other areas where protected. Buttplate, also case hardened, is now mostly bright silver. Stock retains nearly all of what appears to be its original french polish, with some marks and scratches. Bore is excellent. Mechanically excellent. Perhaps the best Owen Brothers rifle in existence. MGM14.
Manufacturer
Owen Brothers
Model
Springfield Custom Rifle