GUN FALL 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/4/2016
EXCEPTIONAL CLAMSHELL ACTION SIDELOCK DOUBLE RIFLE DRILLING BY MILLER & VAL GREISS WITH SCOPE.MILLER & VAL GREISSDBL RIFLE DRILLING7034400/350 FLANGED RIGBY x 400/ 350 Flanged Rigby x 16 GAMODERNCal. 400/350 Flanged Rigby x 400/350 Flanged Rigby x 16 ga. This unusual German combination gun was inspired by English taste, and has many unusual features. 25" Bbls are fitted with matted quarter rib mounting broad U-notch single standing leaf rear sight and claw scope bases. Central portion of rib is sunken in English style, and silver bead front sight is longitudinally dovetailed into raised, ramp base. Tops of bbls are engraved "Miller & Val. Greiss" and "Munchen". Krupp steel marks are toward rears with breech ends engraved with 3/4" triangles of scroll. Bbl flats are stamped with post 1892 and pre 1912 German nitro proofs. Highly unusual clamshell sidelock action features tang safety (SICHER in gold), flip-up lolly-pop type tang sight, and very unusual rifle/ shotgun selector which toggles right and left just behind top lever. Locks are fitted with raised rib tumbler end cocking indicators, and a single pin type indicator for shotgun bbl is to left of top lever. Both triggers are set. Action is engraved in a Germanic rendition of British rose and scroll with sprays of simple scroll surrounding circular rose bouquets on lockplates and triangular rose arrangements behind hinge pin. Sides of clamshell are engraved in acanthus motifs. Trigger guard is of horn. Very fine, well marbled, and nicely fiddle figured European walnut round knob pistol grip buttstock measures 14-5/8" over horn basket weave buttplate, and features small shadow line right hand cheekpiece, lozenge shaped inset horn drop points, closely spaced checkering at grip, with a hinged cartridge trap with spaces for four rifle cartridges, and a vacant gold oval on toe line. Rifle comes complete with an old leather sling in orig swivels, with one anchoring front portion of cartridge trap on butt, the other soldered to bottom bbl. Matching small forend has inset horn tip and Deeley type release. A Leupold Vari - X II scope with duplex reticle is in well fitting custom made claw rings. 16 ga: Bore diameter: - .671. Bore restriction: -.033 (full). Wall thickness: -.022. Drop at heel: approx 2-7/8", drop at comb: approx 1-9/16. Weight without scope: 8 lbs. 5 oz. LOP: 14-5/8". Accompanying this rifle are one full box and one partial box (10 rounds) custom loaded ammunition marked 9 x 70R (which is the European equivalent of the 400/ 350 flanged Rigby cartridge). This caliber is also marked on boxes. Also included is a sighting target showing 1-1/2" group shot at 50 yds with the scope about 2" high of center, with Brenneke slug hole 2-1/2" low of center. PROVENANCE: Target. CONDITION: Fine. Bbls retain nearly all of what appears to be orig blue, but is possibly an old re-blue, engraving and matting remain clear and sharp. Action and lockplates retain a considerable amount of their orig case hardening color, but are mostly silver to gray. Stocks retain nearly all of an old hand rubbed oil finish, sharp edges preserved. Checkering lightly worn. There is an incipient 1/2" stress crack on left side at top of grip running from rear of tang down into checkering. It appears stable, and does not flex. There is no corresponding crack on right side. Horn of trigger guard and buttplate is fine. All bores are excellent. Rifle bores are shiny with just a hint of erosion at throats. Scope is excellent, clear optics. Front ring has some vise marks at base. A truly special combination gun. 51076-4 MGM274 (9,000-14,000)