GUN SPRING 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
SUPERB CONDITION JOHN PRATT OF EDINBURGH PERCUSSION DOUBLE RIFLE WITH DOUBLE SHOTGUN BARRELS AND ORIGINAL MAHOGANY CASE AND ACCESSORIES. JOHN PRATT PERCUSSION DBLS 88/ 89 16GA/12GA (1839) Cal. 16 ga. Rifle (.655 Bore diameter, multi groove rifling) and cal. 12 ga. (.710 groove diameter) shotgun bbls. 28" Rifle bbls and 29-1/2" shotgun bbls, both have wide flat ribs engraved "J. Pratt No 11 Hanover Street Edinburgh" (1833 - 1839) on rear portions of ribs, and have case hardened patent breeches with platinum blow-outs. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with Birmingham black powder proofs and with SNs 88 for shotgun bbls and 89 for rifle bbls. Each bbl set has its own rosewood and brass ramrod. Rifle set has typical rifle rod, and one standing, one folding leaf rear sight, dovetailed through rib. Rifle bbls also have sling eye on front ramrod pipe. Breech iron is nicely scroll engraved. Back action locks with flat faced hammers have back sliding safeties and are engraved with scroll, game birds, and "J. Pratt". Case hardened trigger plate has stylized pineapple finial which is scroll engraved and matches thimble. Blued trigger guard has nicely engraved running stag on bow, more birds on tang, along with SN 89. Nicely marbled and stump figured dense European walnut straight grip stock measures 14-3/8" over blued steel buttplate engraved with standing stag and scroll on long top tang. Drop at heel: 2-1/8", drop at comb: 1-1/2". Weight with shotgun bbls: 7 lbs. 15 oz. LOP: 14-3/8". Fine figured mahogany case with pivoting hook closure has inlet cupid's bow brass corners and central D-ring handle. Case is lined in green baize and has orig Pratt paper label in lid with 28 Hanover Street address (ca 1839). Case is configured for gun and both sets of bbls, and has a near complete complement of orig tools and accessories including rosewood handled turnscrew, nipple key, loading mallet, and wad container. The rosewood used is rather striking incorporating some white sapwood. Also included are Davis type steel 16 bore round ball mold, small ebony bottle with spare nipples, small round pewter oil bottle, correct style and size tin bodied Sykes powder flask, leather shot pouch with steel spout, and what appears to be orig leather sling with snap hook swivels. Another compartment holds some cleaning implements, no rod present. CONDITION: Excellent, showing very little use. Both bbl sets retain nearly all of their orig brown with excellent twist definition. Case hardening of patent breeches is excellent. Top strap and tails of locks are silvered, but generally retain 80% of their orig color. Trigger guard and buttplate retain most of their orig blue, most loss due to flaking. Stock finish is excellent, dry, and essentially untouched, with a few light marks and dents. Bores are excellent, bright and shiny throughout. Locks are crisp. Case retains what appears to be most of its orig finish with some added varnish. There are some large shrinkage cracks in lid and across rear left corner, with repairs to rear side of lid. Interior cloth is fine with marks, compressions, and soiling, and some repairs to blocking and areas where cloth has been cut by sights, etc. Accessories are generally fine. It is unusual to find guns of this quality and vintage in this high state of orig condition. 51689-1 MGM112 (6,500-9,500)