GUN SPRING 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.
SIMPLY EXQUISITE, PETITE PAIR OF FINELY CRAFTED, BEAUTIFULLY ENGRAVED AND GOLD INLAID .410 BORE SIDELOCK EJECTOR LIGHT GAME SHOTGUNS BY JOHN WILKES WITH CASE. JOHN WILKES SXS SIDELOCK 15300/ 15301 410 MODERN (1994) Cal. .410. 3" Chambers. These superb little guns have 26" chopper lump bbls gold inlaid "John Wilkes" and engraved "79 Beak Street. London. W.1." on narrow swamped game ribs. They are also gold inlaid "1" and "2" denoting a true pair. These gold numbers also appear on top levers and forend tips. Bbl flats are stamped with 1994 London nitro proofs for 3" chambers. Scaled down (.85" between firing pin holes) actions are case hardened and stocked to the fences, and feature automatic safeties (SAFE inlaid in gold), gold band tumbler end cocking indicators and dbl triggers. Actions and lockplates are engraved with incredibly well detailed relief sculpted large open acanthus scroll with some strapwork highlights, in beautifully shaded background. This superb work surrounds relief carved scenes of gamebirds on lockplates, major subjects are gold inlaid in full relief and have lifelike detailing. The themes are different on each gun with gun "1" commemorating quail; bobwhite on left lock erupting out of thicket, and Gambels quail on the right flushing into open with mountainous background. Bottom of action has 2-color gold rendition of pointer retrieving Gambel's quail. Gun "2" with grouse as theme, with gray partridge in dramatic dense woodlands on left side, and trio of red grouse blasting out of the heather on right. Bottom of action depicts a portrait of a spaniel retrieving partridge. (No engravers signature is found, but this is most likely the top quality work of Craig Whitsey, long time engraver and gunmaker, present proprietor of John Wilkes.) Single beaded trigger guards have matching scroll and SNs in gold on tangs. Pretty well matched straight grip buttstocks of burl and stump European walnut, measure 15-1/4" over checkered wood butts, and feature standard drop points, point pattern grip checkering and vacant gold ovals. Small splinter ejector forends with Anson releases are engraved "Made for Bartlett Burnap" on irons. Gun "1": Bore diameter at muzzles: left -.368, right - .377. Bore restrictions: left (full), right - (mod). Drop at heel: 2-1/16", drop at comb: 1-5/16". Cast: approx 1/2 off. Weight: 4 lbs. 15 oz. LOP: 15-1/4". Gun "2": Bore diameter at muzzles: left -.387, right - .396. Bore restrictions: left - full, right - mod. Drop at heel: 2", drop at comb: 1-5/16". Cast: neutral. Weight: 4 lbs. 15 oz. LOP: 15-1/4". High quality tan leather two gun case with stitched leather corners, is lined in burgundy cloth, and has Wilkes Beak Street gold embossed black leather label in lid. Case contains one piece of a composition and brass 2-pc cleaning rod, two horn handled turnscrews, and two gold plated oil bottles starburst engraved (one marked "John Wilkes London" on top, the other "Lubricant"). CONDITION: Excellent, very close to new, with only a few small marks and dings in metal finishes, most notably four knocks about 12" back on muzzles on right bbl of gun "2". Both guns show some light scratches in wood. Bores are excellent. Mechanically excellent. Case leather has only a few light marks. Interior is excellent. 53052-10 mgm123 (40,000-60,000) W/CASE, 7 ACCESS