2265

CUSTOM PREWAR BROWNING SUPERPOSED SHOTGUN W/

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,750.00 USD Estimated At:3,500.00 - 7,500.00 USD
CUSTOM PREWAR BROWNING SUPERPOSED SHOTGUN W/
STOCKWORK BY PAUL HODGINS & SUPERB GOLD INLAY & BULINO ENGRAVING BY LEE GRIFFITHS. Cal. 12 Ga., 2 3/4". S# 11392. (1936). Bbl. 26 1/8". Starting w/ a pre war Browning superposed skeet gun, this interesting creation took shape. Sideplates were added to action & gun was restocked by noted ex Holland & Holland craftsman Paul Hodgins. The 26 1/8" bbls. w/ ventilated rib have all early Browning marks. Action w/ gold plated single selective trigger has been impressively & masterfully engraved & gold inlaid by renowned engraver Lee Griffiths (no signature found). Top & bottom of action are engraved w/ relief shaded acanthus scroll. Sides & ornamental sideplates are engraved w/ a bouillabaisse of various game birds w/ upland game on left side & waterfowl on right. These birds appear to emerge out of a sea of engraved scroll, left side w/ central pheasant flanked by various species of quail w/ broad bands of inlaid gold as background. Right side depicts central swan flanked by Canada geese & mallards. A wood duck is toward front of scene. Detail is almost photographic in bulino technique. Bottom of action is engraved w/ a scene of what is most likely the man for whom this gun was made out hunting w/ his English pointer. A sign in background reads "Bird Lane" "Hunters Welcome". Top lever thumbpiece is pierced & scroll carved. Trigger guard is engraved "en suite." Buttstock of superb feather crotch & beautifully marbled European walnut features ebony capped long pistol grip & measures 15" over black ostrich leather covered pad. In place of checkering, grip is full relief carved w/ acanthus scroll. This scroll extends up into comb & around sideplates. Matching schnabled 1 piece forend is of streaked walnut which matches wood through grip. Rear portion continues theme of relief carved acanthus. MEASUREMEANTS: LOP: 15". DAC: 1 1/2". DAH: 2 1/4". Cast: approx. 1/4" off. WEIGHT: 7 lb. 9 oz. CONDITION: exceptionally fine, appears to have seen very little use since custom rebuilding & finishing w/ only a few very light handling & assembly marks in all wood & metal finishes. Action is tight, ejectors somewhat out of time. PROVENANCE: From the Frederic W. Thrane Collection. (20-2449/MGM40). CURIO. $3,500-7,500.