GUN FALL 2016
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
VERY FINE CASBARD ENGRAVED CHURCHILL "PREMIERE" EASY OPENING SIDELOCK EJECTOR GAME GUN WITH CASE.CHURCHILLSxS PREMIERE850312GAMODERN; C&R(ca 1970) Cal. 12 ga. 2-3/4" Chambers. 26" Chopper lump bbls are fitted with matted Churchill type rib and have Churchill name and address engraved on tops. There are 1-1/4" triangles of well cut scroll at breech ends. Bbl flats are stamped with London nitro proofs for 2-3/4" chambers, and SNs are engraved on bottoms of bbls. Case hardened and slim, Baker patent, easy opening, sidelock action features automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold), gold plated internals, and gold plated dbl triggers (front slightly "loose"). Action and lockplates are engraved with near full coverage of exceptionally well cut medium scroll with "Churchill" in scroll terminated riband at the front portion of each lockplate, and with "Premiere" "Finest" "Quality" on bottom of action. A letter from Geoffrey Casbard accompanies this gun. In it he states that he is "the culprit that engraved your gun". Blued and double beaded trigger guard is engraved with matching, but somewhat larger scroll, and has SN on long tang. Flesh-toned, broadly marbled, and nicely figured European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-1/2" over checkered wood butt with engraved steel heel and toe plates, and also incorporates standard drop points, point pattern checkering, and a vacant gold oval. Matching splinter ejector forend has Anson release. Bore diameter: left -.729, right - .729. Bore restrictions: left - .031 (full), right - .014 (lt mod). Wall thickness: left - .026, right - .030. Drop at heel: 2", drop at comb: 1-1/2". Cast approx 1/4" off. Weight: 6 lbs. 9 oz. LOP: 14-1/2". Green canvas VC case with stitched leather corners has stitched on leather central medallion gold embossed "ROBERT B. ARTHUR". Interior is lined in green cloth, and has gold embossed black leather Churchill label in lid. Case contains a pair of Churchill marked snap caps. PROVENANCE: Factory specification sheet. Two letters from Geoffrey Casbard regarding engraving and his work history. CONDITION: Excellent, very near to new, with only a few rubs and light handling marks in wood, and some slight silvering on metal, as would be associated with a week or two of field use. Bores are excellent. Action is tight. Ejectors are strong and in time. Case shows some fading, and rubs on leather. Handle is good. Interior cloth shows some rubs, compressions, and light soiling. A nicely balanced, fine handling, Churchill Premiere, with some unusual features. 50623-13 mgm14 (15,000-25,000)