GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
FINE MATCHED PAIR OF LEBEAU-COURALLY "NEMROD" ROUND BODY SIDELOCK EJECTOR GAME GUNS ENGRAVED BY R. SMEETS WITH CASE.LEBEAU-COURALLYSXS ROUND SIDELOCK44197/4419812 GAMODERN(1968) Cal. 12 ga. This nicely appointed pair of high quality guns by this renowned maker, are finished in round action Boss style, which the makers referred to as "Nemrod". They have 27-5/8" chopper lump bbls fitted with slightly raised, matted, game ribs. Tops of bbls are engraved "Fait Specialemant pour J. Ae. A.Dorhaut Mees - Utrecht" and "Par Aug. Lebeau-Courally a Liege". Guns are a true pair, and are gold inlaid "1" or "2" on rear portions of ribs, top levers, and forend tips. Bbl flats are stamped with 1968 Belgian nitro proofs for 2-3/4" chambers, and with makers name and address. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with choke information and steel type (Comprime de Wahlreyne). SNs are on splinters. Coin finished round bodied sidelock actions feature non-automatic safeties, hidden third fasteners, bushed strikers, round bodied locks which are hand detachable with H&H type takedown pins, and dbl triggers (fronts articulated). Actions are engraved in very well cut, London style rose and scroll. Guns finished in this manner were called "Edimbourg" by factory. Engravers signatures, "R. Smeets", are on trigger plates. Scroll engraved trigger guards have SNs at grips. Nicely matched, well marbled, and lightly figured European walnut straight grip buttstocks are finished in round manner without drop points, and have point pattern checkering at grips, vacant ovals on toe lines, and skip lined checkered wood butts. Long splinter ejector forends have Anson type releases. Gun no. "1": Bore diameter: left - .725, right -.724. Bore restrictions: left -.019 (mod), right -.007 (IC). Wall thickness: left -.028, right -.029. Drop at heel: 2-1/4", drop at comb: 1-5/8". Weight: 6 lbs. 8 oz. LOP: 14-5/8". Gun no. "2": Bore diameter: left - .724, right -.724. Bore restrictions: left -.018 (Mod), right -.004 (IC). Wall thickness: left -.029, right -.023. Drop at heel: 2-7/16", drop at comb: 1-11/16". Weight: 6 lbs. 9 oz. LOP: 14-5/8". What appears to be orig makers leather case with brass corners has rectangular brass plaque engraved "E. ten Cate H. E. Zn." "Almelo - Holland". Interior is lined in dark green cloth with gold embossed black leather makers label in lid. Case has space for both guns, and contains 4 brass snap caps made from Valmet cartridges, as well as a key. PROVENANCE: The Ioannis Koilakos Collection. CONDITION: Excellent, as partially refinished. Bbls retain essentially all of a re-black, with light frosting overall. Engraving slightly softened. Coin finish of actions remains a very pleasing silver gray. Stocks retain essentially all of a renewed hand rubbed oil finish with some subsequent light marks. Checkering competently re-cut. Gun no. "2" has some old repaired cracks at bottom wrist, which do not flex. There are some very minor grain checks behind lockplates of gun no. 1. Bores are excellent. Actions are tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are strong and in time. Case leather is very fine with some minor stains and rubs. Interior cloth is very fine with some soiling and compressions. Labels somewhat faded. Through its long history Lebeau-Courally has produced some of the finest guns in the world. These guns rate quite highly. 50108-17 MGM128 (30,000-50,000)