GUN FALL 2016
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
SUPREME QUALITY BUT ELEGANTLY UNDERSTATED, SIDELOCK EJECTOR GAME OR PIGEON GUN BY J. PIRE OF ANTWERP. PIRE SXS SLE P.1K462 12 GA MODERN; C&R Cal. 12 ga. 3" Chambers. 28" Chopper lump bbls are gold inlaid "J. Pire & Company Anvers" on unmatted portion of slightly raised, concave game rib. Bbl flats are stamped with Belgian nitro proofs for 2-3/4" chambers. Blued sidelock action with reinforcing bolsters, also features non-automatic safety (S inlaid in gold), hidden third fastener, bushed strikers, and dbl triggers (front articulated). Action and lockplates are engraved with line and small scroll borders. Fences are deeply engraved with an arcade of acanthus scroll and geometric motifs. Gun is "2" of a pair with "2" inlaid in gold on top lever. Nicely streaked, and lightly figured, dense European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-3/8" over Silver type pad, and features nicely carved, scalloped drop points, well cut point pattern checkering with line borders at grip, and a vacant silver oval on toe line. Matching splinter ejector forend has gold-plated internals and Anson release. Bore diameter: left -.716, right - .718. Bore restrictions: left - .032 (full), right - .025 (Imod). Wall thickness: left - .036, right - .038. Drop at heel: 1-15/16", drop at comb: 1-3/8". Cast: approx 1/4" off. Weight: 7 lbs. 7 oz. LOP: 14-3/8". PROVENANCE: Remarkable William Larkin Moore Private Estate Collection of Fine Sporting Arms. CONDITION: Excellent, as partially refinished. Bbls retain over 95% of what appears to be orig blue, with a few light marks and scratches, and some flecking on right. Action and lockplates retain over 90% of their orig blue; action silvered on beads and fences. Blue of trigger guard is silvering at grip. Stocks retain essentially all of a very fine hand rubbed oil refinish, checkering cleanly freshened. Pad is new. Bores are excellent. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are strong and in time. 50594-44 MGM226 (4,500-7,500)