April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/24/2019
Easily one of the most identifiable 20th century figures, Nikita Khrushchev needs no introduction to any student of history. Khrushchev served as Chairman of the Council of Ministers from 1958 to 1964 and this gun was built for him as a presentation piece in honor of the beginning of the 21st session of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and is so inscribed, given to him in 1959. The gun itself is a 12 gauge Purdey type action that has been engraved to the absolute highest order. Made with 29-1/2" chopper lump barrels, the gun has a short beavertail forearm with Anson type push button release. Forearm is skip line checkered in 5 point pattern and metal parts are blued and engraved with gold line work accents. The barrels are fitted with a raised matted tapered rib with small steel bead at front. Tops of barrels with gold inlaid Tula Armory logo. Breech ends of barrels are beautifully multi-colored gold inlaid showing wheat stalks and ribband around the barrels. The gun has gold plated double triggers (front trigger articulated), auto-ejectors, and auto-safety and is an assisted opener action. The finely figured straight grip European walnut buttstock with finely cut tear drops behind action is skip line checkered with a beautiful bone inlay near toe with Nikita Khruschchev's initials carved in and terminates with a skip line checkered butt. The action is incredibly engraved throughout with deep relief scenes exploring vignettes of Russian strength. The left side lock is fully engraved to the highest order showing a hydro power plant at front of lock, war planes in the sky, a large statue perhaps representing the strength of Russian labor, and several missile or grain silos, all surrounded by light gold line work and full sculpturing. The bottom of the action is finely filed and bottom front of action shows a Russian "hammer and sickle" symbol finely inlaid in gold and also has deeply sculpted wheat sheaves and leaves. Front of bottom of action is inlaid in gold which translates to "Proletariat of the world unite". There is a large gold banner also inscribed "XXI" in honor of the 21st communist congress convening. There is also a book engraved with the outline of Lenin, which is perhaps the Communist Manifesto. Towards the bottom of the trigger plate there is another gold inlaid hammer and sickle. Trigger guard with fine gold borders, small gold hammer and sickle, and engraved in wheat sheaf pattern with serial number in gold at long tang. The top of the frame is fully sculptured with wheat, corn, grapes, and other fruits symbolizing the abundance of the Soviet Union. The blued top lever has hammer and sickle carved at thumb point on both sides with silver inlaid dove at center, representing peace. The right lock is fully engraved with corn and wheat towards back of plate, man and woman coming together in center symbolizing unity of the home, with the man holding a hammer, representing his work, and the woman representing the home and Russian agriculture symbolized with farm scene, crop duster in background, and large factory towards center, perhaps representing the Industrialization of Russia. Khruschchev was a smaller man at 5'3" tall and that explains the length of pull as the gun was made to fit him. The gun is housed in an incredible dark grained European walnut casing with fancy brass fixtures on the corners. The top lid has a 21" long x 6-1/2" wide hand engraved view of Red Square. The casing is red felt lined in the interior and adds remarkably to the overall presentation of this exceptional arm. CONDITION: Extremely fine and near mint. This exceptional gun shows very little use and the action retains virtually all of its original case color, only toned at high edge points. Barrels retain nearly all of their original blue which is under some sort of old varnish which has begun to crackle a bit. The stocks are sound and retain virtually all of their original finish with pores opening up and only very minute handling marks noted. Bores are brilliant and shiny, mechanics are crisp. The case, which is a work of art in itself, is in excellent condition with only a couple of minor losses to the veneer and very minor soiling to the interior, but overall in superb condition with the lid ever so slightly warped. The case interior appears to have been relined. The historical significance as well as the artistry found within this gun make it easily one of the most important 20th Century arms. It is worthy of the world's finest gun collections.
Barrel Wall Thickness
(Both) .036
Internal Bore Diameter
(Both) .732