Charles Daly shotguns & drilling used to be some of the finest guns available in America. Even though these firearms were made in Europe, they were marketed under the Charles Daly name and sold in American sporting good shops like Von Lengerke & Detmolf and Abercrombie & Fitch.
The three Charles Dalys you see below are a great exceptional examples of just how nice these gun could be. If you would like to own one of them, all three coming up to auction this Tuesday, March 12, at James D. Julia’s Spring Firearms Auction.
LOT 2208: OVER THE TOP CHARLES DALY REGENT DIAMOND SINGLE BARREL TRAP GUN. SN 2422. Cal. 12 ga. 2-3/4″ Chamber. This heavily embellished, top of the line, trap gun has 32″ bbl fitted with raised, ventilated rib, mounted with two red beads, and gold inlaid “Charles Daly Regent Diamond Quality” in scroll engraved rear portion. 3-1/2″ Triangles of exceptional relief scroll engraving extend from breech end. Bottom of bbl is stamped with HAL crossed pistol logo, the mark of H. A. Lindner, maker of what many believe to be the finest Daly’s of all time. Large matching ejector tapered beavertail forend has Deeley release. Bore diameter: .721. Bore restriction: .035 (Full). Wall thickness: .068. Drop at heel: 2″, drop at comb: 1-1/4″. Weight: 8 lbs. 4 oz. LOP: 14-1/2″.
CONDITION: Excellent. Bbl retains 98% + orig blue, slightly silvered on edges of rib, with a few light scratches and marks. Action retains considerable amount of its orig case hardening color, high points and engraving pleasingly silvered. Stocks retain nearly all of an old oil refinish, with a few light marks, checkering slightly worn and dirty. Original pad is petrified. Bore is excellent, bright and shiny throughout. Action is tight. Bbl is on face. Ejector is strong. The finest craftsmanship is evident everywhere on this masterpiece of German gunmaking.
PRICE: $8,000-$12,000
LOT 2209: CHARLES DALY LIGHTWEIGHT 16 GAUGE DIAMOND GRADE GAME GUN. SN 2118. Cal. 16 ga. 2-1/2″ Chambers. 28″ bbls are engraved “Charles Daly Diamond Quality” on unmatted portion of raised, matted, concave rib. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with HAL crossed pistol logos (mark of H. A. Lindner) and “Witten Excelsior”. Scroll flanked circular Witten logos are engraved on tops of bbls in front of 1-1/2″ triangles of nicely cut medium scroll. Case hardened, scallop-backed, small boxlock action features non-automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold), side clips, hidden square crossbolt third fastener, and pin type cocking indicators. A Miller selective trigger has been fitted. Water table is stamped “Prussia”. Bore diameter: left-.671, right -.670. Bore restrictions: left -.018 (Mod), right -.010 (IC). Drop at heel: 2-9/16″, drop at comb: 1-11/16″. Weight: 5 lbs. 6 oz. LOP: 14-1/2″.
CONDITION: Very fine. Action retains 30 – 40% orig case hardening color, strong where protected, but is mostly a very pleasing bright silver. Stocks retain nearly all of an old oil refinish, edges slightly rounded, with a number of minor marks, checkering somewhat worn. Bores are excellent. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Trigger works. Ejectors are in time. A very high quality shotgun that would be a fine little upland gun.
PRICE: $6,000-$9,000
LOT 2221: EXCEPTIONAL CHARLES DALY 20 GA OVER 30-30 SIDELOCK DRILLING. SN 113906. (ca 1912) Cal. 20 ga. x 20 ga. x 30-30. 28″ Krupp steel bbls are engraved “J. P. Sauer & Son, Suhl.” on tops. Full length matted rib has flip-up combination sight for rifle/ shotgun. Case hardened, full back-sidelock action features tang mounted safety (engraved SAFE) with flip-up adjustable rear peep sight hinged through, pin cocking indicator for rifle bbl, crossbolt third fastener, raised rib tumbler end cocking indicators, bushed strikers for shotgun bbls, rifle cocking side lever, and double triggers. Weight: 6 lbs. 10 oz. LOP: 14-1/8″.
CONDITION: Excellent. Action retains 80% + orig case hardening color, silvered somewhat on bottom and fences. Lockplates retain nearly all of their orig color. Stocks retain nearly all their orig rubbed oil finish with a few minor marks and knocks, as would be expected from light field use. Bores are excellent, bright and shiny throughout. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Mechanically excellent. 20 Bore Daly Drillings are very scarce, and not listed in the 1902 catalog.
PRICE: $4,000-$6,000
