GUN FALL 2016
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
LOVELY HIGH END SMALL BORE FRANCOTTE 45 "EAGLE" GRADE GAME GUN WITH CASE.FRANCOTTESXS 45 EAGLE8847120GAMODERN; C&RCal. 20 ga. The 45 "Eagle" retailed at $550.00 in 1927. This rare small gauge example has 28" chopper lump bbls with narrow, file cut, concave game rib. Tops of bbls are engraved "Abercrombie & Fitch Co" "U.S. Agents New - York". Bbl flats are stamped with Belgian nitro proofs for 2-3/4" chambers. Case hardened, sideplated, boxlock, small sized action features automatic safety (S inlaid in gold), hidden crossbolt third fastener, side clips, intercepting safety sears, and dbl triggers. Action is engraved with near full coverage varying sized scroll within geometric borders; heraldic eagle is semi-relief engraved in two color gold on floorplate (shield is in light yellow). Fences are nicely relief carved in cattail motif. Sideplates have areas of scroll surrounding nicely detailed vignettes of game birds; group of quail (?) at front of left lockplate, and three pheasant at rear, and a trio of snipe (?) at front of right lockplate, with three ducks at rear. "A. Francotte Maker & Patentee Leige Belgium" is engraved along the bottom of each plate. Blued trigger guard with more scroll has SN on tang. Beautifully marbled and nicely figured flesh-toned European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-1/2" over checkered wood butt. Closely spaced point pattern checkering with line borders is at grip, and two gold ovals are on toe line; small older one, perhaps original, is engraved "GDG", and a later one "W. W. B" "4.28.76". Matching splinter ejector forend has Anson release. Bore diameter: left -.620, right - .621. Bore restrictions: left - .013 (mod), right - .005 (IC). Wall thickness: left - .028, right - .026. Drop at heel: 2-1/8", drop at comb: 1-7/16". Cast: approx 5/8" off. Weight: 5 lbs.7 oz. LOP: 14-1/2". Abercrombie & Fitch marked British style VC leather case with stitched leather corners, has oval central medallion marked "W.W.B". Case is lined in burgundy cloth, and contains straps and one detached strap loop retainer. CONDITION: Excellent, original, as found. Bbls retain approx 85% orig blue with numerous light marks, dulled and thinned considerably from normal hand wear near forend. Action and lockplates retain approx 80% orig case hardening color, quite strong where protected, thinning on edges and bottom from normal hand wear, and is still quite attractive. Top lever is silvered on thumbpiece. Trigger guard retains approx half of its orig blue, thinned on sides and silvered on tang. Stocks retain over 80% of what appears to be their orig oil finish over numerous light marks and scratches, which is possibly an old refinish. Present finish thinned on toe line after installation of new oval. Checkering remains sharp, possibly re-freshened. Bores are excellent. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are strong and in time. Case leather has numerous rubs and marks. Two corners are missing, one strap retainer detached. Orig handle is good. Interior cloth is fine with considerable rubs and soiling. A superb fast handling gun. 50730-9 mgm93 (10,000-14,000)