GUN FALL 2016
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
EXTRAORDINARY AND DAINTY FRATELLI PIOTTI "MONACO EXTRA" 410 SIDELOCK EJECTOR GAME GUN WITH EXQUISITE ENGRAVING INCORPORATING NEARLY EVERY TYPE; COMMEMORATING THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, DONE BY SOME OF THE WORLD'S FINEST ENGRAVERS, WITH CASE.PIOTTISXS MONACO NEW ORLEANS SPEC7627410MODERNCal. 410 ga. 26" Chopper lump bbls with slightly raised flat matted rib, are engraved "Flli PIOTTI ITALY" on left side of left bbl. Bbl flats are stamped with 1980 Italian nitro proofs and early Piotti logo. Bottoms of bbls are engraved with importer (W L Moore Westlake CA) and grade. Scaled down special 410 sidelock action features non-automatic safety (S inlaid in gold) and single non-selective trigger with checkered finger blade. Engraving on this fine little gun almost defies description, but consists of a background of exceptionally well cut minuscule scroll within shaded scrolling floral borders, all surrounding exceptionally well done Bulino vignettes commemorating the City of New Orleans. The bottom of action portrays the city shield consisting of a conquistador sitting beside the river with mountains in background on central shield. This shield surmounts an alligator, and is flanked by a Native American and a southern belle, all under a group of stars in a burst. Left lockplate has wonderful portrayal of a group of jazz musicians in alleyway under sign for "shirts $5.00". Detail is so fine that one can even make out the brand name of the bass drum (Premier). This scene is individually signed "Balneari". Right lock portrays the riverboat "Natchez" under banner "New Orleans 1981". Fences feature deep relief carved carnival masks, that are especially well detailed. Makers name is inlaid in gold on right lockplate and with address "Gardone VT" on left. Trigger guard which continues the theme of small scroll with larger borders, has central flush gold inlay of the "King of Carnival". SN is in gold on tang. Trigger plate is signed "Inc e'quipe Bottega Dell'Artigiano". Superlative wonderfully marbled European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-1/4" over checkered wood butt, and features diamond hand with exceptionally well cut closely spaced borderless point pattern checkering. Matching small beavertail ejector forend with Anson release has inlet gold Piotti crest on central uncheckered diamond. Bore diameter (at muzzles): left -.405, right - .411. Drop at heel: 2-1/8", drop at comb: 1-7/16". Cast: approx 3/16" on. Weight: 4 lbs. 15 oz. LOP: 14-1/4". Tan canvas case with stitched leather corners is lined in olive green watermarked velvet with brown Piotti label stitched into lid. Case contains case straps and key. PROVENANCE: Remarkable William Larkin Moore Private Estate Collection of Fine Sporting Arms. CONDITION: Excellent, essentially as new, appears unfired since proof, with a few extremely light handling and assembly marks on wood and metal, most notably some light scratches on left bbl at left side of forend, mostly covered with forend installed. Mechanically crisp. Case is excellent. Just a wonderful little gun. 50594-102 mgm51 (32,500-50,000)