October 30 - November 2, 2018 Firearms, Militaria, & Sporting
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/30/2018
(1975) This very high grade Merkel was part of the Robert Petersen collection. It has 28" Demi-bloc barrels fitted with low profile matted ventilated rib engraved with makers name and address along with retailer (Glaser Zurich) surrounded by well cut open shaded scroll on ejector bolsters. Barrel flats are stamped with 1975 East German proofs for 2 - 3/4" chambers. A sling loop is soldered to bottom barrel. Coin finished double Kersten OU action is fitted with back spring side locks and features non-automatic safety, raised rib tumbler end cocking indicators, and single selective trigger with selector at right side of trigger plate. Action is engraved with near full coverage very well cut semi-relief open shaded scroll of varying sizes. Bottom of action is marked "Gebr. Merkel". Lockplates are very finely relief carved with canine and bird scenes. On left plate a pointer and setter are in open woodlands intently watching departing covey of quail, two are running, one is about to take off, two others have already flushed in distance. Right depicts a fox sneaking through dark woods as two pheasant run into foreground, another is flushing, one is flying away. This fine Masterwork engraving appears to be unsigned. Blued top lever and trigger guard are engraved with more matching scroll. Nicely marbled and lightly fiddle figured European walnut round knob semi-pistol grip buttstock measures 14 - 1/2" over ribbed horn buttplate. Well cut multi-point pattern checkering is at grip, and a sling loop matching that on barrels, is on toe line. Matching full three piece ejector forend has Deeley release. Interior of iron is engine turned, and a gold oval in front of release is engraved with monogram "MAG". CONDITION: Excellent, very close to new, with scant evidence of firing and light field use. Barrels retain essentially all of their original blue. Coin finish of action and locks remain clean and unstained. Top lever and trigger guard have only a hint of silvering. Trigger guard has some minor roughness on left side of bow. Stocks retain nearly all of their original finish, with a number of light knocks on butt, with a deeper ding at left side at heel. Bores are excellent. Mechanically excellent. Gun is housed in what is most likely its original tan leather case with riveted on brass plated corners lined in green felt. Case contains weapon's certificate issued by Glaser, and a woven leather carrying sling. Case is fine with a considerable number of marks on exterior. MGM45
Barrel Wall Thickness
T .036 B .041
Choke
T .036 (full) B .026 (mod)
Internal Bore Diameter
T .727 B .726
Length Of Pull
14 - 1/2" no cast