GUN FALL 2016
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
WONDERFUL SMALL BORE "GOLDEN AGE" LEBEAU-COURALLY IMPERIAL SIDELOCK EJECTOR GAME GUN. LEBEAU COURALLY SXS IMPERIAL EXTRA SLE 42905 20 GA MODERN; C&R (1936) Cal. 20 ga. 2-3/4" Chambers. 27" Chopper lump bbls with matted, game rib are engraved "Aug. Lebeau-Courally" "Liege" on tops. Bbl flats are stamped with 1936 Belgian nitro proofs. Gun is no. "2" of a pair, with "2" engraved on rear lump, gold inlaid on top lever, and engraved on forend iron. Bottoms of bbls are engraved "Acier - Lebeau - Rust - Proof No 273". Splinter is stamped with SN. Case hardened, small sized action is made without safety and features hidden third fastener, bushed strikers, and dbl triggers (front articulated). Action is engraved with full coverage intertwined looped ribbons, flower stems and blossoms, with a few added leaves, all in a small scroll and shaded background, in a pattern often associated with the Lebeau-Courally Imperial grade. This engraving extends to fences and trigger guard. SN is on tang. Makers name and address is on scrolled ribbon device on bottom of action, and engravers signature "M Hannay" is on trigger plate. Finely marbled, and well figured, flesh-toned European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-1/2" over broadly spaced flat top checkered wood butt. Point pattern checkering with line borders is at grip. A silver shield engraved "LL" (?) is on toe line. Matching long splinter patent ejector forend has Anson release. Bore diameter: left -.628, right - .626. Bore restrictions: left - .028 (full), right - .013 (mod). Wall thickness: left - .024, right - .027. Drop at heel: 2", drop at comb: 1-5/16". Cast: Neutral. Weight: 5 lbs. 14 oz. LOP: 14-1/2". PROVENANCE: Remarkable William Larkin Moore Private Estate Collection of Fine Sporting Arms. CONDITION: Excellent. Bbls retain over 95% orig blue, with some silvering at muzzles, thinning along sides, and a number of light scratches and marks. Action retains 70 - 80% orig case hardening color, silvered on beads and fences, thinning on bottom, from normal hand wear. Lockplates retain over 90% of their muted color. Top lever is silvered on thumbpiece. Trigger guard retains 40 - 50% of its blue, silvered on sides and at grip. Trigger blades retain most of their orig case hardening color. Stocks retain nearly all of what appears to be their orig glossy oil finish which is possibly an old light refinish, or perhaps added oil. Checkering is lightly worn. Bores are excellent with some light frosting, with one or two small pings, mostly in left bbl. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are in time. Lebeau-Courally has made some of the finest guns in the world. This is a fine pre-war example. 50594-52 MGM103 (15,000-25,000)