(A) CASED PAIR OF WILLIAM POWELL & SON SIDELOCK EJECTOR SIDE BY SIDE 12 GAUGE SHOTGUNS.

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/11/2024

Circa 1897 per "British Gunmakers: Volume Two - Birmingham, Scotland & the Regions" by Brown. With gold inlaid "1" and "2" sequential serial numbers, these guns were made as a pair. Dovetail lump barrels with brass bead front sights on slightly concave solid tapered game ribs, engraved "William Powell & Son. 35. CARRS LANE. BIRMINGHAM." on rib rear with an encircled gold "1" and sprig of acanthus scroll which turns into a shell motif at doll's head rib extension. Stiff leaf engraving at breeches. Barrels with an applied brown Damascus finish underside with British nitro proofs for a 12 gauge with 2 - 1/2" chambers at a nominal .729 IBD and 3 ton PSI. There are a number of other British proofs, mostly obfuscated. There is a discreet import mark for "Hill R & G UK" (?, difficult to read through other proofs), out of Bozeman. Splinter forearm with reinforced Anson plunger release with point pattern checkering and light acanthus and floral scroll engraved on exterior iron. Interior with matching serial number and a large Gothic "1". Water table with British nitro proofs. Sidelock actions with classic English scroll, engraved "William Powell & Son" at bars with double triggers protected by a long tang trigger guard engraved en suite with serial number engraved at tang, automatic safety with "SAFE" inlaid in gold ahead of slide, and a gold "1" in a laurel wreath on lever. Lightly fiddled and nicely grained walnut with teardrops, point pattern checkering about the wrist, silver ovals at toe lines, and leather wrapped recoil pad with English style covered screws. In a leather wrapped case with embossed "FTS" on lid, Powell trade label in lid, segmented cleaning rod, and oil pot, partly relined. CONDITION: Very good as rehabilitated. Barrels with the majority of their reapplied browning, with some silvering to sharp edges and where forearm makes contact. Some legends heavily softened by rebrown, but address still legible. Forearms with some handling marks and abraded heads, stocks are gently sanded and revarnished, softening sharp edges; buttpads are replaced and ill fit. Actions bright with crisp engraving, trigger guards reblued. Mechanically fine, ejectors are soft but in time, bores bright with some light firing residue. Barrel (B) left barrel appears to have the choke opened up. Case with age related distress and some rubs, left strap with a small tear, partly relined, replaced hold-open strap and with trade labels heavily darkened.

Name

Value

Accessories

Case

Barrel Length

(BOTH) 29 - 7/8"

Barrel Wall Thickness

(A) (L) .018 (R) .019 (B) (L) .020 (R) .023

Chamber

(BOTH) 2 - 1/2"

Choke

(A) (L) .016 (R) .006 (B) (L) .010 (R) .004