If you’re into nice shotguns, James D. Julia’s firearms auctions are a big deal. Held in the spring and fall, these sales bring some of the world’s finest shotguns and rifles to market.
This J.P Sauer Deluxe side-by-side is one of those great shotguns. Doubles like this rarely hit the open market. If you’re a gun nut like I am, just seeing something this exceptional is a thrill. Here are all the details on it from the auctioneerL
Lot 2206: AN EXCEPTIONAL DEEP RELIEF CARVED AND GOLD INLAID J. P. SAUER DELUXE GAME GUN: SN 122896. Cal. 12 ga. This wonderful top of the line Sauer gun has 29-3/4″ chopper lump bbls with raised, concave, matted rib, engraved “J. P. Sauer & Son” in milled out portion. Tops of bbls are engraved with Krupp steel information and 3-ring logos. Bbl flats are stamped with German imperial proofs, caveman logos, and are engraved “Prussia”. There are 2-1/2″ triangles of exquisitely detailed and beautifully carved, high relief, large, scrolled, open, shaded acanthus at breech ends; muzzles with more scroll and geometric bands. Scallop-backed boxlock action features non-automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold), side clips, hidden crossbolt third fasteners, and double triggers. It is engraved with the same classic scroll as found on bbls, except acanthus leaves are more pronounced.
This exceptional scroll frames wonderfully detailed vignettes of feathered game; with relief gold inlaid trio of partridge on left; pair of flying geese over marsh on right; and family group of black grouse, one cock, lyre tail spread, standing on rock; with two onlooking hens. Blued top lever has pierced acanthus carved thumbpiece. Trigger guard, with matching scroll, has gold inlaid retriever on bow, and SN at grip. Dark, nicely streaked, and full fiddle figured European walnut steel capped pistol grip buttstock measures 14-1/4″ over matching scroll engraved skeleton steel buttplate. A gold shield is on toe line engraved “G. P.” Side panels are nicely carved with relief scrolled acanthus. Checkering is of standard point pattern. Matching splinter ejector forend has Anson release.
Bore diameter: left-.727, right -.722. Bore restrictions: left -.035 (Full), right -.026 (Mod). Wall thickness: left -.028, right -.036. Drop at heel: 2-1/4″, drop at comb: 1-5/8″. Weight: 7 lbs. 4 oz. LOP: 14-1/4″. Included with gun is Abercrombie & Fitch hang tag giving specifications, with a price of $500.00.
PROVENANCE: Letter from Griffin & Howe with specifications for gun, as taken on consignment in 1953. It was sold in 1953 for $500.00. Hang tag.
CONDITION: Excellent. Bbls retain essentially all of a factory quality re-blue, with minimal polishing and loss to engraving. Action retains a considerable amount of its orig case hardening color, vivid where protected. High edges and tops of engraving have wonderful hand worn brilliant silver patina, to very fine effect. Top lever is silvered at thumbpiece. Stocks retain what appears to be their orig finish with a few minor marks. Checkering is slightly worn. Bores are excellent, bright and shiny throughout with evidence of a dent being removed from left bbl, 9″ back from muzzle. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are perfectly timed. Close inspection of this fine shotgun leaves no doubt as to why these are often referred to as “Masterpiece” guns. Tag is fine.
ESTIMATE: $20,000 – $30,000
