November 18, 2020 Extraordinary, Sporting & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/18/2020
Pre-war beautifully engraved full sidelock "Neptune Grade" Krieghoff Double Rifle Drilling built by Sempert & Krieghoff, Suhl, Germany in 1930 for Arthur Seyss-Inquart. Seyss-Inquart is best remembered for being a prominent Nazi politician, assigned as the Chancellor of Austria prior to the Anschluss, after which he became the governor of the newly formed Ostmark. In May of 1940, Seyss-Inquart was moved to the Netherlands, where he was appointed Reichskommisar. In the Netherlands Seyss-Inquart ruled with an iron fist, forcing over a half million Dutch citizens into forced labor, the expulsion of Jews from the government (including deportation to Buchenwald and Auschwitz). Seyss-Inquart was obviously well thought of as a Nazi and a politician because after Hitler's suicide, his last will and testament names Seyss-Inquart as the new Foreign Minister. Inquart was captured in 1945 by two Royal Welsh Fusiliers, after which was tried at Nuremberg and hanged for war crimes. Gun features Krupp Steel barrels in rare double rifle with 16 gauge shotgun barrel configuration with rare offset same caliber rifle barrels with rifle barrels at 3:00 and 6:00 o'clock positions. Gun marked with import stamp "Simpson LTD G'thsburg, ILL.". Barrels are of rare shorter than normal length being 21-5/8" long. Barrels have raised matted rib with fine bead blade front sight with fixed notched rear sight and rib is notched for clamp mount scope. Coin finished game scene and floral chisel engraved sidelock receiver with game birds and deer and side clips. Gun has barrel selector switch on left side to switch from rifle to shotgun. Blued external cocking lever on left side with double triggers, front being a set trigger. Gun has cocking indicators with opening lever having "S I" in gold for Seyss-Inquart. European walnut fine checkered pistol grip stock with Bakelite grip cap and buttplate. Stock has floral pattern engraved bullet trap with push-button opening lever. Walnut fine checkered splinter forearm with ebony inlay and engraved latch release. PROVENANCE: Gun comes with complete biography of Arthur Seyss-Inquart and documentation from The Royal Netherlands Army & Arms Museum, Netherlands, of gun being on display there in an exhibit of several personal items of Seyss-Inquart's. CONDITION: Overall good with 90% original blue 90% action finish with 80%+ hand-rubbed finish with some handling marks and dings. Good bores and mechanics. Gun should be checked by trained gunsmith to confirm exact caliber. DLM
CORRECTION: Estimated amended.
Barrel Wall Thickness
.033
Caliber/Bore
7.8mm/16 Bore
Drop At Comb
Approximately 1 - 3/8"
Drop at Heel
Approximately 2 - 3/4"
Internal Bore Diameter
.672
Manufacturer
Sempert & Krieghoff