GUN SPRING 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
SUPERB ABBIATICO & SALVINELLI VENERI SIDELOCK EJECTOR GAME SHOTGUN WITH EXQUISITE RISING DUCK BULINO SCENES BY THE RENOWN FIRMO FRACASSI. THIS GUN IS ILLUSTRATED IN MANY BOOKS ON ITALIAN ENGRAVING. ABBIATICO & SALVINELLI BEST SxS 32028 12 GA MODERN Cal. 12 ga. 2-3/4" Chambers. 27-7/8" Well struck chopper lump bbls fitted with slightly raised game rib, are engraved "Armi Famars" on top of left bbl. Bbl flats are stamped with SN and 1975 Italian nitro proofs. Rear lump is stamped with the first names of the craftsmen involved in the making of this gun, as was done by Famars on their best efforts. The names are: Mario (Abbiatico), Remo (Salvinelli), Primo and Tony. Coin finished sidelock action features non-automatic safety, bushed strikers, and dbl triggers (front articulated). Action is engraved with floral sprays in a background of well cut small scroll. Fences continue this motif in larger scale. Bottom of action features Bulino scene of four mallards winging over a marsh. Lockplates to the edges, and sides of action to the limit of the beads, have extraordinary borderless engraving of Bulino scenes of ducks taking wing from a marsh with ancient leafless trees in immediate background, and unforested mountain tops in the far background. Left lock depicts three mallards splashing as they break out of the water, with right lock showing them above the surface, heading for the skies. This wonderful work shows the Bulino style at its best, and is almost photographic in its quality. It is the work of Firmo Fracassi, acknowledged world class artist, and the best of the best among engravers, and his signature appears near roots of tree on bottom action scene. Left plate scene is featured on the dust cover of GRANDI INCISIONI SU ARMI D'OGGI by Mario Abbiatico Gianberto Lupi and Franco Vaccario. This gun was also featured in the winter 1987 Pachmayr catalog. Also an impression (smoke) of this very engraving is figure 129 in MODERN FIREARMS ENGRAVINGS by Mario Abbiatico. Single beaded trigger guard has SN on tang. Beautifully marbled and lightly stump figured European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-1/8" over checkered wood butt, and features well cut drop points as well as very well executed closely spaced point pattern checkering with line borders at grip. Matching splinter ejector forend has Anson release and intricately inlet Famars shield with oak leaf border in uncheckered central diamond. Bore diameter: left -.729, right - .728. Bore restrictions: left - .020 (mod), right - .011 (IC). Drop at heel: 2-1/8", drop at comb: 1-7/16". Cast is neutral. Weight: 6 lbs. 12 oz. LOP: 14-1/8". PROVENANCE: Appraisers notes with description and valuation. Copy of the Pachmayr advertising, and copies of pages where gun is featured in Nobili's book. CONDITION: Excellent, essentially as new, appears unfired except for proof, with only a few light handling marks in all wood and metal finishes, and some slight discoloration of coin finish on action and locks. A superb irreplaceable high art gun. Among other things, Mr. Fracassi has engraved only an estimated 60 guns in his long career. 51448-3 MGM129 (60,000-75,000)