Carol Watson’s Orange Coast Auctions in Irvine, CA, is having a big gun auction this weekend, starting tomorrow, 8/3 @ 10am, Pacific. There are a lot of shotguns coming up. Here are a few of the doubles that caught my eye:
John Krider, Phila. 8 Ga. Perc. Market Shotgun: Philadelphia made 8 Ga. Percussion Double Barrel Market Shotgun, by John Krider, 28” barrels, sideplates, hammer, triggerguard and buttplate are lightly engraved and marked ”John Krider”; barrel flat engraved ”Philadelphia”. Condition is about fine with trace case colors to lockplate and hammers. Barrels have toned brown. Checkering shows only the slightest flattening with a very small repair at toe of stock. Good functioning action, good bores, with beautiful original hickory ramrod. Estimate: $8,000-$10,000.
Remington Grade 2 Model 1878 SxS Shotgun: Heavy Duck Side-by-Side Shotgun, #6033, 10 ga., 32” damascus barrels, checkered stock and forend, steel buttplate, case hardened frame, hammers and thumb lever. Mfg’d 1878-1882. Condition is very good retaining approx. 20%-30% thinning and toning brown to barrels, 50% thinning and silvering case colors to frame, hammer and lever. Stock with slight scuffs and dings, minor flattening to checks at pistol grip and somewhat more moderate to forend. Missing the head of left hammer screw. Action is crisp, bores are bright. Estimate : $800-$1,200.
Parker G Grade SxS Shotgun: #131065, 12 ga., 28” fine damascus barrels, lightly engraved case hardened frame, select figured American pistol-grip checkered stock, Parker Bros. hard rubber checkered butt pad, double trigger with extractors. Mfg’d 1904. Condition is fine to near excellent. Barrel shows just minor thinning to damascus pattern, with minor thinning to case color on frame at balance point. Stock shows minor flattening to checks, somewhat more pronounced on forend, with minor impressions. Action is crisp, bores are right. Estimate: $1,500-$2,000.
W.W. Greener ”The Trapgun” SxS Shotgun: #35004, 12 ga., 27-3/4” damascus barrels with unchoked bores, smooth game rib, exposed hammers, double trigger, with Prince of Wales pistol-grip checkered walnut stock and large heavy beavertail forend. Top of barrels marked ”W.W. Greener THE TRAPGUN. 68 Haymarket, London”. Mfg’d approx. 1886. Condition is fine with light thinning and silvering to damascene patterned barrels. Frame and sidelocks retain approx. 75% original finish. Stocks with light scuffs and minor flattening to checks. Action is tight, bores are bright. Front bead is missing, and barrels may have been shortened. Length of pull 14”. Estimate: $1,800-$2,400.
16 gauge Darne Model R-13 SxS Sliding Breech Shotgun: 27” blue barrels, floral engraved case hardened frame, double triggers, ejectors, straight checkered stock and horn-tipped forend, with leather sling. Condition is very good to near fine retaining approx. 92% re-blackened barrels. Case colors to frame have mostly gone silver. Stock with minor flattening, small holes to left side cheekpiece from an old cheek pad, repair at heel behind rear sling swivel, and ¼” hole just forward of triggerguard that may be original. Buttplate shows repairs and is missing lower screw. Action is crisp, bores are fine and bright. Estimate: $800-$1,200.
One-of-a-Kind Angelo Bee Exhibition Grade Engraved and 4-Color Gold Inlaid Belgian Browning Model 25: Over/Under Shotgun, #2883F69, 28 ga., 26-1/2” vent rib barrel, straight grip Exhibition Grade walnut stock with false three-piece checkered forend. Left scene depicts fighting pheasants; right scene with pintail ducks setting down, with classic Belgian scrolls and gold inlaid flora. Bottom of stock is extensively inlaid with multi-colored gold wire design and game birds. Buttstock is additionally inlaid with false sidelock type plates with large duck and pheasant motif in gold. Angelo Bee told us that it was is first foray into double border inlays in his career and this gun is from his personal collection. Condition is excellent with breathtaking designs. Estimate: $18,000-$24,000.
