June 25-28, 2018 Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/25/2018
Former Churchill production director and author of the "House of Churchill" book, Don Masters, acquired a number of actions and parts with the dissolution of the company, and started to build guns under his name (Masters From Churchill). This is the second gun in this series, as related by him in the epilogue of the "House of Churchill". On page 461, he says "Lou ordered a Masters 12 bore, 28" best gun No. 018 with Anson & Deeley action and ejectors. On this occasion, Lou supplied his own wood for the "round-head" stock to Mick Webster, the stocker." As stated, this gun No. 018 has 28" dovetailed barrels fitted with slightly raised flat rib. Tops of barrels are engraved "Masters Gunmakers Ltd" "Cannon Works. Durking. Surrey. England." Barrel flats are stamped with Birmingham nitro proofs for 2-3/4" chambers. Serial number is engraved on bottoms of barrels. Case hardened ogee backed boxlock action with well filed beads features non-automatic safety and single non-selective trigger. Action is engraved in traditional "Regal" style with 50% coverage well cut scroll with rose bouquet highlights. "MASTERS" is in scrolled ribands on each side. Blued floorplate has more scroll. Top lever and double beaded small bow trigger guard are also blued and scroll engraved. Serial number is on trigger guard tang. Classically laid out, dark veined and feather figured European walnut straight grip buttstock with checkered wood butt. Classic point pattern checkering is at grip, and a gold oval engraved "L. B. D." is on toe line. Matching splinter ejector forend has Anson release. Gun is housed in green canvas case with stitched leather corners. Top of case is embossed with initials "L. B. D." Interior is lined in green cloth, and has Masters paper trade label in lid. Case contains cleaning equipment, snap caps, and a round oil bottle. Also in case are two letters, one with invoice for this gun, and the other from the original owner relating its history and hunting venues. Excellent, showing limited field use. Barrels retain nearly all of their original blue with some very light marks and high edge wear. Action retains approximately 97%+ original case hardening color, slightly silvered on fences and along edges of bottom, as well as top tang. There is also slight loss to blue on thumbpiece of top lever, and beads, as well as grip of trigger guard. Stocks have a few light marks in their original finish. Bores are excellent. Action is tight. Ejectors are in time. Trigger works. Case is excellent with few marks. Interior cloth is excellent, with some rubs. Label is very clean. Accessories are excellent. An historically interesting gun.
Accessories
Hard case, Snap caps, Cleaning tools, letters
Barrel Wall Thickness
(L) .032 (R) .033
Choke
(L) .023 (mod) (R) .015 (lt mod)
Internal Bore Diameter
(L) .729 (R) .729