December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/11/2024
Shoe lump barrels fit with solid matted rib fit with a blade front sight with brass insert, two leaf rear sight with one fixed standing leaf and one folding leaf, no marks for regulation, both hatched on the face for anti-glare. Engraved "Safari .416 Rigby" over right chamber, Merkel import information on left, with light acanthus engraving at breech end. Barrel flats with caliber designation, serial number, and Suhl pick-and-sole shield. Gun is fit with extractors with spring loaded lip for catching the rimmed cartridge. Barrels are relieved for sideclips and a fit for a Kersten bolt. Flat bottom round nose forearm with a Deely latch release is checkered in point pattern about the release and decorated with geometrics and light floral scroll. Interior with matching serial number. Scalloped boxlock action is engraved with African game scenes, including a cape buffalo in a meadow on left and a lion on right; signed "FP" behind the cape buffalo for Felix Pabst. Scrollwork and geometrics support the game scenes, underside of receiver with Suhl blacksmith logo. Non-automatic safety with an encircled "S" ahead of slide. Straight grained walnut stock with sidepanels, pistol grip with two panels of point pattern checkering about the wrist, a composite grip cap, pancake cheekpiece, and soft black rubber Pachmayr pad. Sling bows on studs at toe line and underside of rib. With original factory box with end label identifying this gun by serial number, including notation for engraving by Pabst and various measurements. CONDITION: Excellent, NOS or equivalent, with some very minor handling marks scattered throughout the all original finishes to wood and metal. Mechanically fine, bores excellent with strong, bright rifling. Box fine. A lovely rifle in an all-time classic big game caliber.
Manufacturer
Gerbruder Merkel