November 17 & 18, 2021 Extraordinary Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/18/2021
Circa 1949. According to letter provided this 12 bore game shotgun with 26" blued "SEIMENS MARTIN" steel barrels was custom built for Neil H. McElroy, former U.S. Secretary of Defense from 1957 - 1959 under President Eisenhower and Chairman of Procter & Gamble. The 26" barrels are made with 2 - 5/8" chambers and ejectors. Barrels are fit with a tapered machine cut concave game rib with extension, gold line, and steel front bead. The right barrel reads "VAN LENGERKWE & DETMOLD" and the left barrel reads "U.S. AGENTS. NEW YORK". Barrel flats read "FRANCOTTE CHOKE BORE" with appropriate Belgian proof marks and "SEIMENS MARTIN STEEL". Both barrels with Belgian proof marks. Bottom right barrel with serial number "62366" and "1035". Left barrel with "7982" and "0". Chokes are Full and Improved Cylinder. The coin finish sidelock action is adorned with foliate scroll engraving with "A FRANCOTTE MAKER & PATENTTE LIEGE BELGIUM" on the bottom of each lockplate. Action is fit with cross bolt third fastener, sideclips, Miller single mechanical trigger, engraved checkered top lever, engraved and checkered safe slide, "S" in gold, and an automatic safety. The actions water table has Belgian proof marks and serial number "62366". The European walnut stock features a straight hand grip with fine checkering and a rubber recoil pad. English straight hand grip supported by full-length scroll engraved bottom tang with serial number. Splinter forend with Anson style push-button release. Exterior iron metal is scroll engraved. Interior iron metal has Francotte logo, "PATENT", "2213" and serial number "62366". Gun resides in a toe under tan leather travel case with burgundy interior. The exterior top lid is stamped "N. H. McE." CONDITION: Good. Barrels retain 80% blue and bores are bright. Action is sound. The trigger is crisp and ejectors are in time. Stock and forend with handling and storage marks. Finish of wood around grip of stock and bottom of forend dull from use. Left edge of forend towards front is missing a sliver of wood. Checkering on forend is worn. Case is good. (CP)
Barrel Wall Thickness
L:.035 R:.030
Internal Bore Diameter
L:.729 R:.729