GUN SPRING 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.
"MADE TO IMPRESS" THE LEGENDARY FREDERICK SCALES KELL ENGRAVED AND GOLD INLAID SIDELOCK EJECTOR GAME SHOTGUN WITH CASE AND ACCESSORIES.FREDRICH SCALESSXSH2226912W/CASE. ACCESSMODERN; C&R(ca 1900) Cal. 12 ga. 2-1/2" Chambers. The story of this interesting gun is that Frederick C. Scales, a long time Purdey stocker, married a German girl, and that he built this fine gun for himself to show off the British gun trade while shooting with his in-laws. He started with a Holland & Holland type action and commandeered friends in the gun trade to complete this interesting testimonial. It has 30" dovetailed bbls engraved "Frederick C. Scales. London." on hand matted game rib. Rear portion of rib and breeches of bbls are engraved with 2-1/2" triangles of nicely cut open shaded acanthus scroll with strapwork highlights. Bbl flats are stamped with London nitro proofs for 2-1/2" chambers. SN is on splinter. H&H type sidelock action is engraved "F. C. Scales London" on water table and is stocked to the fences. It features automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold), gold band tumbler end cocking indicators, and dbl triggers (front articulated). Locks are fitted with H&H type hand detachable pin. Action is flamboyantly engraved with full coverage well cut, high relief, large open scrolling acanthus with floral and strapwork highlights. Fences are relief carved with leaves and scroll. This dramatic scroll surrounds relief gold inlaid greenman's face on bottom which appears to be a wild eyed caricature of the kaiser, or perhaps Hitler. Lockplates are gold inlaid with griffins in recumbent poses. Griffins on right side (one flying, the other passant) have pheasant heads. Other areas on this interesting gun are done in a similar manner with a gold inlaid pheasant on top lever, and a partridge in gold on trigger guard bow. Safety button is full relief engraved with grotesque face. All this interesting and well executed work is by the famed Harry Kell, engraver to the trade, often engaged by Purdey's for special projects. Well marbled and lightly figured European walnut steel capped pistol grip buttstock was made by Scales himself, and has Germanic treatment of right hand shadow line beaded cheekpiece. It has standard Purdey type drop points and grip checkering. It measures 15-1/8" over Silver pad. Rectangular steel crest plate on toe line is relief engraved with maple leaves around "F C S" in relief gold. Matching splinter ejector forend with Anson release has steel central diamond with more relief engraving having caricature of "North Wind" at center with gold inlaid eyes and nose. Forend tip has gold inlay of portrait of a spaniel. Interior of iron is also fully scroll engraved, with central device engraved "Made By" "Frederick C. Scales" "38 Years With J. Purdey & Sons" "LONDON" "1940". Bore diameter: left -.732, right - .730. Bore restrictions: left - .028 (IMod), right - .014 (mod). Wall thickness: left - .026, right - .025. Drop at heel: 2-5/8"-, drop at comb: 1-1/2". Cast: neutral. Weight: 6 lbs. 14 oz. LOP: 15-1/8". Older leather case is embossed "J. P. DALGLEISH" and is lined in burgundy cloth and contains cleaning equipment, square oil bottle, snap caps, and Purdey bench cloth. A group of photographs, some of the interior of this gun, others of master engraver Ken Hunt, and Bill O'Brien, ex-Purdey stocker, as well as David Trevallion, (who was apprenticed to O'Brien) holding this gun. PROVENANCE: SHOOTING TIMES, March 15, 1990 with article about this gun. Book: GUN CRAFT by Vic Venters who has a chapter on "The Scales Gun." p. 229 - 244. CONDITION: Very fine, as partially refinished. BBls retain nearly all of a best black, thinning a bit on sides, with some light marks. Action retains a considerable amount of a muted orig case hardening color, percentage difficult to ascertain because of extensive engraving, highlights are attractively silvered. Stocks retain most of an old oil finish, with some marks and small dings. Checkering has been cleaned up. Bores are excellent. Action is tight. Ejectors are strong and in time. Case leather is fine. Straps are new. Handle is good. Interior cloth is good with some slight insect damage, label removed. 53177-13 mgm149 (30,000-50,000)