GUN SPRING 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.
STEPHEN GRANT BEST HAMMERLESS SIDELOCK DOUBLE RIFLE MADE FOR THE MAHARANA OF UDAIPUR, H.H. FATEH SINGH, KGCSI, WITH VOLUMINOUS INFORMATION REGARDING THE MAHARANA, HIS LIFE, AND TIMES. STEPHEN GRANT SIDELOCK DBL RIFLE 5705 577/500 BPE 3 1/8 (1887) Cal. 577/500 Magnum 3 1/8" BPE. .508 Bore diameter. 28" Dovetailed Damascus bbls with full length file cut rib and extension are engraved "Stephen Grant" on left bbl, and "67A. St. James's Street. London." on right. One standing, one folding express rear sight with platinum lines is marked "100" and "200" yards. Silver bead front sight is longitudinally dovetailed into raised portion of rib. Heavily reinforced splinter is stamped with SN. Bbl flats have London black powder proofs for 39 bore. Top lever action has beautifully filed Grant type fluted fences, fillets, and beads, and features a non-automatic safety with "SAFE" inlaid in gold. Bar locks are engraved "Stephen Grant". Action and lockplates have 80% coverage of well executed small English scroll. Trigger guard is scroll engraved with SN on tang which extends to engraved steel grip cap. Fantastically flame figured European walnut pistol grip buttstock measures 14-1/2" over coarsely checkered steel buttplate with 1" top tang. Stock features nicely shaped beaded double shadow line right hand cheekpiece, drop points, and point pattern checkering with mullered borders. There is a vacant gold oval on toe line. Matching splinter forend has Anson release, and SN on iron. Drop at heel: Approx. 2-7/8", drop at comb: Approx 1-15/16". Cast: neutral. Weight: 10 lbs. 8 oz, LOP 14-1/2". Period oak and leather case with brass corners has central brass medallion newly engraved "H. H. FATEH SINGH" "MAHARANA OF" "UDAIPUR" "1887". Interior is lined in burgundy cloth and has old Grant label in lid. Bottom has been reconfigured for this rifle and contains old brass mold marked "500" casting a conical bullet, with adjustable hollow pointing pin, large ebony handled adjustable powder measure, Hawksley made brass case fixer marked "500", and a brass screw type capper/ de-capper marked with SN, along with some cast bullets. PROVENANCE: Two voluminous 3-ring ring binders of information, including loads recently developed that shoot quite well, copy of factory ledger page, an incredible compendium of history, photographs, post cards, hunting references, government records, excerpts from period books, gazetteers and reviews, as well as histories regarding the life, times, and hunting exploits of Fateh Singh, who shot over 1000 tigers. CONDITION: Very good, as partially refinished. Bbls retain most of a re-brown, with excellent definition to pattern. Action is mostly pewter gray. All engraving and edges are relatively sharp. Wood shows essentially all of a very fine hand rubbed oil finish. Sharp edges slightly rounded. Checkering has been re-cut, and is sharp. Forend has two rather large well hidden repairs at either side of tip, and another on right side toward rear. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Enfield rifled bores show considerable wear, shiny, and light pitting throughout. Case is in good condition, leather is dark with numerous marks and scuffs. New straps and handle are excellent. Renewed interior cloth is excellent. Old label is foxed with a rub through. Accessories are good to fine. Grant double rifles are very scarce. 53199-1 MGM139 (12,500-17,500) W/CASE, ACCESS