GUN FALL 2015
The live portion of this session begins on Monday, October 5, 2015.
EARLY W. J. JEFFERY BOXLOCK EJECTOR .500 NITRO DOUBLE RIFLE. W. J. JEFFREY SXS 16497 .500 NE MODERN Cal. .500 NE 24” Chopper lump bbls with dolls head rib extension are fitted with matted quarter rib holding one standing, four folding leaf express rear sight, marked for 100, 200, 300, and 500 yards. Sunken mid-rib is also fully matted, and matted front base holds silver bead. Tops of bbls are engraved “W. J. Jeffery & Co. Ltd” and “13 King Street, St. James St. London.” Bbl flats are stamped with Birmingham nitro proofs for 80 grains cordite and 570 grain bullet. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with Krupp steel info, and bottom of right bbl with SN. Large sling eye is screwed through bottom rib. Robust, case hardened, boxlock action with arched cutout at back features non-automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold), bushed strikers, and dbl triggers. Action is engraved with vignettes of complacent buffalo on each side. Top lever, floorplate, trigger plate, and trigger guard are blued. SN is on trigger guard tang, which extends to horn grip cap. Lightly streaked and fiddle figured, dense European walnut capped pistol grip buttstock measures 15-1/8” over Silver type pad over 11/16” nicely matched wood extension. Point pattern checkering with mullered borders is at grip. A sling eye matching that on bbl as well as a vacant silver oval, are on toe line. Short splinter forend fitted with Baker ejector, has Anson release. Drop at heel: approx. 2-1/2“, drop at comb: approx. 1-7/8 “. Weight: 11 lbs 14 oz. LOP: 15-1/8”. Accompanied by and unopened 10 pack of two yellow and red boxes of .500 NE non-mercuric soft nose cartridges. PROVENANCE: Wm West Estate Collection. CONDITION: Fine, as refurbished. Bbls retain nearly all of a London quality re-black with excellent polishing, and engraving re-cut. Action retains traces of orig case hardening color, but is essentially pewter gray, engraving clear. Blue of other parts has been renewed over some light pitting. Screw slots show some use. Stocks retain most of a glossy refinish over numerous marks, and a few subsequent scratches and chips, checkering re-cut. Pad is relatively new. Bores are exceptionally fine for an early cordite rifle, with only a hint of frosting in grooves. Rifling is strong and sharp throughout with little evidence of cordite burn at throats. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are strong and in time. Like most all doubles by Jeffery, despite the near 12 pound weight of this rifle, it handles and points exceptionally well. It would make a great working rifle, ideal for the largest species of game in the world. 49479-5 MGM220 (20,000-30,000)