GUN SPRING 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
RODDA HAMMER DOUBLE HOWDAH RIFLE WITH ORIGINAL CASE AND MANY ACCESSORIES.RODDASxS22636577-500 #2 BPEESACal. .577/500 No. 2 BPE. This unusual short barreled big bore rifle has 20" dovetailed steel bbls with broad raised file cut rib, fitted with one standing, one folding leaf rear, and silver bead front sights, is engraved "R. B. Rodda & Co" "Makers by Appointment to H. E." "The Viceroy & HRH The Duke of Edinburgh London & Calcutta" on tops. Bbl flats are stamped with London black powder proofs for 39 bore. Bbls with "HENRY'S PATENT A & T 4160 AND 4161"(Adams and Tate use numbers). A sling eye is screwed to bottom rib. Case hardened, round bodied Jones underlever action fitted with rebounding back locks with round bodied serpentine hammers, is engraved with 60% coverage well cut varying sized scroll. Makers name is at the top of each lockplate. Trigger guard has SN on tang which extends to horn grip cap. Somewhat burl figured and nicely marbled European walnut capped pistol grip buttstock measures 14-5/8" over checkered steel buttplate, and features shadow line right hand cheekpiece, typical point pattern checkering at grip, and a sling eye, as well as a vacant silver oval, on toe line. Matching splinter forend has steel tip, and sliding captive side bolt through oval steel escutcheons. Drop at heel: approx 2-7/8", drop at comb: approx 1-3/4". Cast is neutral. Weight: 8 lbs. 12 oz. LOP: 14-5/8". What is most likely orig leather case with brass corners has Sanskrit (?) paper label on top. Interior is lined in green cloth with large paper Rodda label in lid. Case contains an array of fine quality accessories, possibly orig, including: Greenfield brass mold casting a short conical 500 caliber bullet with hollow pointing pin, 500 caliber brass bullet fixer by Hawksley, Dixon 500 caliber broken case extractor, ebony handled nipple key and turnscrew, large bone bottle containing copper hollow pointing tubes, another smaller striker bottle with strikers that appear to be correct for this rifle, round Dixon pewter oil bottle, good quality steel mainspring vice, very fine condition high quality leather carrying strap with polished steel snap hook swivels, as well as cleaning equipment. CONDITION: Excellent, appears to be completely orig. Bbls retain over 90% orig blue with a number of scratches and marks, mostly from removal of forend. Action and locks retain over 90% of their orig case hardening color, thinned at tails of locks, with some cleaned areas of light pitting on trigger guard tang, and some old cleaned pitting on breechface. Stocks retain nearly all of what appears to be their orig finish with some light bumps and scratches. Bores are excellent, except for some scattered light pits, mostly in right bbl. Action is tight. Locks are crisp. Case leather is still mostly light in color over considerable dark spotting on top. Straps are good. Stitching deteriorated. Interior cloth is good to very good with some fading, compressions, marks, and soiling. Label shows some insect damage, is foxed, and has some rubs. Accessories are good to fine. An unusual little rifle. 51760-2 MGM123 (7,500-12,500)