October 30 - November 2, 2018 Firearms, Militaria, & Sporting
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2018
This finely crafted French shotgun has 28 - 1/4" twist steel barrels engraved "Pondevaux et Jussey St Etienne" (working 1845 - 1870) on raised concave rib. Bottoms of barrels are stamped with French proofs and "CANON DE SURETE". A baleen ramrod with brass tip and tail (worm on tail) is held by two very nicely beaded pipes. Rear with sling loop. Breech plugs are well filed but do not have blow-outs. Breech iron is finely engraved with well cut acanthus surrounding a recumbent doe. Bar locks with tall serpentine hammers have rebated tails, and are engraved with well done interesting game scenes; a pair of hounds flush a pair of snipe over pond on left lockplate, and two other dogs chase a rabbit on right. Trigger plate has spear shaped finial matching thimble and trigger guard with scroll front is engraved with open scrolling acanthus. The gold initials "ED" are on bow. Finely fiddle figured European walnut straight grip stock measures 14" over steel buttplate with long top tang engraved en suite with remainder of gun. Stock attaches to barrels with captive side bolt through oval engraved steel escutcheons. CONDITION: Very fine to excellent. Barrels retain approximately 85% original Damascus brown, with good definition to pattern, most loss due to rear ramrod pipe being re-soldered with associated darkening and cleaning. Other metal parts retain most of their original french gray finish, darkened mostly from accumulated oil. Stock retains most of its original hand rubbed oil finish with numerous light marks and scratches, some fairly heavy on right barrel channel, with long sliver re-glued. Bores are very fine, shiny. Locks are good, a bit sluggish from congealed oil. A great handling, high quality percussion gun. MGM 236
Internal Bore Diameter
L .638 R .638
Manufacturer
Pondevaux et Jussey