FINE ALEXANDER HENRY BAR ACTION HAMMER DOUBLE RIFLE MADE FOR J. LISTER: SN 6687. (1893) Cal. .450 BPE. 28″ Fine Damascus bbls with full length file cut rib are engraved “Alexr Henry Edinburgh and London.” and “Maker to Their Royal Highness’ The Prince of Wales and Duke of Edinburgh” on uncut portion of rib in front of one standing, three folding leaf express rear sight. Bbl flats are stamped with London black powder proofs, SN, and “AH”. Case hardened Jones under lever action is fitted with unusual bar locks (most Henry rifles are fitted with back action locks). Locks have front sliding stalking safeties and round bodied serpentine hammers with dolphins heads and tall spurs. Action is engraved with well cut small intricate scroll. “Alexr Henry” is on each lockplate. Water table stamped with SN and “AH” has lightening cuts. Scroll engraved steel trigger guard has SN at grip.
Intricately marbled and lightly figured European walnut steel trap capped pistol grip buttstock measures 13-3/4″ over checkered wood butt with engraved steel heel and toe plates. A thin shadow line beaded cheekpiece is on left side, and point pattern checkering with mullered borders is at grip. Matching splinter forend has forward pivoting release. Drop at heel: approx 2-7/8″, drop at comb: approx 2″. Weight: 8 lbs 9 oz. LOP: 13-3/4″. PROVENANCE: Copies of factory ledger pages. Biographical info on Joseph Lister, founder of antiseptic surgery, for whom it appears this rifle was made. Richard Schreiber Collection. CONDITION: Excellent. Bbls retain approx 95% orig brown with excellent definition to pattern. Action and lockplates retain 80 – 90% orig case hardening color, silvered on tangs and slightly on beads and fences. Stocks retain most of their orig rubbed oil finish with a number of light marks, dents, and scratches, a bit dry on butt. Henry rifle bores are excellent, bright, sharp, and shiny throughout, with just a hint of frosting near breech end of left bbl. Action is tight. Locks are crisp. A beautiful Scottish rifle. Estimate: $5,000-$8,000
VERY FINE, SCARCE, ORIGINAL CONDITION LEFEVER EE: SN 48880. Cal. 12 ga. 2-3/4″ Chambers. 32″ Bbls with slightly raised, flat, matted rib mounted with two white beads, are engraved “KRUPP” and “FLUID STEEL” on tops. Krupp markings are also on bottoms of bbls. SN is on bottom left bbl. Typical late action with sideplates covering sears, features Lefever’s automatic safety (S engraved), cocking indicators, adjustable trigger pull, nickel-plated double triggers, and usual Lefever ejector system, ball and socket hinge, and cocking hook. Action and lockplates are engraved in typical “E” style with 30% coverage well cut scroll with geometric borders surrounding oval vignettes of nicely engraved dogs on lockplates; a pointer on left and setter on right. “Lefever” “Arms Co” is engraved on each lockplate. A duck is flushing from marsh on trigger guard bow. SN is at grip. Interesting, well marbled, stump grain European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-1/16″ over old, most likely original, Silver pad, with edges and face cleaned up. Standard point pattern checkering with line borders is at grip. A vacant silver oval is on toe line. Matching splinter forend has usual steel tip, steel escutcheon at
center, and usual friction release. Bore diameter: left -.731, right -.730. Bore restrictions: left -.038 (full), right -.040 (full). Minimum wall thickness: left -.032, right -.032. Drop at heel: 2-1/4″, drop at comb: 1-11/16″. Weight: 7 lbs 9 oz. LOP: 14-1/16″. CONDITION: Excellent. Bbls retain approx 60 – 70% orig blue, with some flecking and silvering on sharp edges. Bottom rib has an old striation/ scratch running from muzzle to 1″ in front of loop. Action retains approx 70% orig case hardening color, silvered from normal hand wear on fences, beads, and around bottom. Lockplates retain 80 – 90% orig case hardening color, right plate a bit less. There is about 20% color on trigger guard bow. Stocks retain most of their orig finish with butt slightly lightened after pad has been cleaned up. Checkering is lightly worn. Bores are very fine, lightly frosted. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are slightly out of time. There are a number of short stable cracks behind lockplates. A neat old gun with great dimensions. Estimate: $6,500-$9,500
FINE, AS FOUND, WILLIAM EVANS SIDELOCK EJECTOR GAME GUN WITH CASE: SN 10120. (Ca 1911)Cal. 12 ga. 2-1/2″ Chambers. 30″ Dovetailed steel bbls are engraved “William Evans (From Purdey’s) 63 Pall Mall. St. James’s, London.” on low, concave game rib. Bbl flats are damascened and stamped with London nitro proofs for 1-1/8 oz of shot. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with SN. Case hardened sidelock action is stocked to the fences and features automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold), double triggers, bushed strikers, and screw grip dolls head third fastener. Action and lockplates are engraved with bold, large, open, shaded scroll with acanthus highlights, and an attractive floral and scroll device on lockplates. Action beads are well filed and fences engraved with large shaded scroll somewhat deeper in relief than that on action. Scroll engraved steel trigger guard has relief SN on short tang. Well figured and lightly streaked, dark European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-3/8″ over checkered wood butt, and features drop points, diamond hand, classic point pattern checkering with mullered borders, and a vacant silver oval on toe line.
Matching splinter ejector forend has Anson release. Bore diameter: left-.731, right -.730. Bore restrictions: left -.019 (Mod), right -.011 (IC). Wall thickness: left -.033, right -.032. Drop at heel: 2-1/8″, drop at comb: 1-7/16″. Weight: 6 lbs. 12 oz. LOP: 14-3/8″. Maker’s leather case with brass corners is embossed “L. C. C.” and “JUNR” on lid, which also has remnants of numerous shipping labels. Interior is lined in scarlet cloth having gold embossed black Evans label on lid. CONDITION: Excellent, as found, retaining an exceptional amount of what appears to be its orig finish on wood and metal under more than a half century’s accumulation of wiped on oil and dust. Bbl blue appears to be smooth, with only a few rubs through. Case colors appear to be vivid, with silvering only on action beads and fences. Oil finish of stock shows slightly raised grain and a number of minor nicks and dents. Checkering is slightly worn and dirty. Bores are bright and shiny with a hint of frosting. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are slightly out of time. Case leather is dark, crazed, and with considerable amount of top grain lifted. Handle, straps, and retainers are missing. Interior cloth shows considerable insect damage, some mildew. Partitions are tight. Label is excellent. A solid, good handling gun in need of a judicious cleaning. Estimate: $8,000-$12,000
EXCEPTIONAL, NEAR NEW, MANY OPTION L. C. SMITH FIELD GRADE WITH HANG TAG AND BOX. SN FWS38768. Cal. 16 ga. 2-3/4″ Chambers. 28″ Bbls with raised, matted, single sighting plane rib, are marked “L.C. SMITH – 16 GA. – Field – FULTON, N.Y. U.S.A.” on top of right bbl. Bbl flats are stamped with Hunter proofs, SN, and “FIELD 2 3/4 IN CHAMBER”. Typical case hardened featherweight action features automatic safety and Hunter single selective trigger. “L.C. SMITH” is on each lockplate. Trigger blade, selector, and trigger guard are blued. Relatively plain American walnut capped pistol grip stock measures 14″ over ribbed composition buttplate. Flat top point pattern checkering with line borders is at grip. Matching schnabeled beavertail ejector forend has reinforcing bolt and secondary knurled release button in blued oval escutcheon. Drop at heel: 2-11/16″, drop at comb: 1-1/2″. Weight: 7 lbs 8 oz. LOP: 14″. Gun is accompanied by its orig yellow hang tag with
correct information penciled in. Brown corrugated cardboard shipping box printed “L.C. SMITH GUNS” on both sides, has blue and white Smith shipping label with destination penciled in, along with railway express label with cost of gun and shipping penciled in. Inner packing box with orig waxed wrappings inside is marked “16 Ga Field” on end. CONDITION: Truly exceptional, essentially as new, appears unfired, with a few very light scratches across rib at rear, and a few light marks in buttstock. Finish on grip cap lifted. There are also a few light marks on trigger guard bow. Bores are excellent. Trigger works. Left ejector is “live” and undoubtedly just a bit gummy from disuse. Hang tag is good, considerably creased and soiled, information legible. Box is fine, some tape lifting, labels lightly foxed and soiled. An unusual, investment quality L. C. Smith. Estimate: $4,000-$6,000
