2206

EXTRAVAGANT BRACE OF H. DUMOULIN BOLT ACTION

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:6,000.00 USD Estimated At:12,000.00 - 18,000.00 USD
EXTRAVAGANT BRACE OF H. DUMOULIN BOLT ACTION

RIFLES, ONE CELEBRATING THE MARINE CORP., THE OTHER, NASA WITH CASE AND ACCESSORIES. It appears from the description of these unique rifles when sold at auction Feb. 25, 2010, that they were presented to Texas Govenor John Connally Jr. who was Secretary of the Navy under John F. Kennedy and Secretary of the Treasury under Richard Nixon. Both rifles are made by H. Dumoulin & Fils & Sons 1983 & 1984 as John Connally left public life after seeking the presidential nomination in 1980, it is difficult to understand why these rifles may have been presented to him; and there is no clear evidence that the story is true.
1) Cal. 300 Win. Mag. S# 1/100. The 28" tapered round barrel is fitted with one standing leaf rear sight in island base and silver bead front in short ramp having sight protector. Top of barrel is engraved with Dumoulin name and address along with "MADE IN BELGIUM". Barrel shank is gold and silver inlaid with scene of astronaut on EVA with space shuttle in gold in background. The gold wire outline of North America is in distance. Right is also gold inlaid "1/100". FN action with gold plated trigger and hinged floorplate is coin finished. Bolt body is engine turned. Receiver ring is engraved with astronaut raising U.S. flag on the moon, lunar modular in background, the Earth is in the distance. Receiver ring has a gold and silver inlaid depiction of the space shuttle after blast off, shuttle is in silver, vapor trail is in gold. Area above scene is gold inlaid "SPACE LAB MISSION 1". Raised and scrolled gold wire inlay is on right of bridge and left receiver wall, top of wall is gold inlaid "Dedicated to NASA". Shaded scroll on bottom metal offsets scene of space shuttle blasting off on floorplate. A gold inlaid American flag is on trigger guard bow. No engraver signature is found. Pistol grip stock of well figured Claro walnut measures 14 1/2" over rifle pad with white line. Stock features swept right hand cheekpiece, two recoil bolts, rosewood forend tip and grip cap with white lines. Point pattern checkering at grip and around forend is exceptionally well cut, borders are bead carved. (22-5821/MGM).
2) Cal. 30-06. S# 1/100. The 24" medium weight barrel fitted with one standing and one folding leaf rear sight in island base and short front ramp holding silver bead front with protector is gold inlaid "H. DUMOULIN & FILS-MILMORT-LIEGE-MADE IN BELGIUM" on top. Right side is gold inlaid "1/100". Coin finished FN standard length action is fitted with gold plated trigger and bottom metal with hinged floorplate. Action and bottom metal are engraved with near full coverage, large open shaded scroll which surrounds bulino scenes celebrating the activities of the U.S. Marine Corps. during WWII. Top of receiver bridge depicts the raising of the U.S. Flag on Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima. Scene on bottom depicts three Marines storming a beach head with the mountain in background. Receiver ring is emblazoned with the Marine Corp. insignia in relief gold inlay surrounded by "DEPT OF THE NAVY" "UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS." within gold lines. Top of left sidewall is gold inlaid "Semper Fidelis". Engraver's signature "P. Vincent" is on horizon at right of beach scene. Bolt body is engined turned as is cartridge follower. Pistol grip stock of dark marbled and lightly figured European walnut measures 14 5/8" over thin "Old English" rifle pad with white line. Stock features swept right hand cheekpiece, two recoil bolts, rosewood forend tip and grip cap with white lines. Point pattern checkering at grip and around forend is exceptionally well cut, borders are bead carved. (22-5822/MGM). UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: guns are housed in tan leather full length case with leather corners and tan canvas outer cover by Huey (1283). Interior is lined in burgundy cloth and has Dumoulin label in lid. Bottom compartment is French fitted for both rifles, their bolts, two turn screws, handle end of three piece cleaning rod, round brass oil bottle and brass striker bottle. There are two covered compartments; one holding three detachable sling loops, the other Huey case info, a key and another auction listing with attribution but no back up. CONDITION BOTH: very fine close to new, showing some storage marks and slight rusting on bright metal. Stocks have some scattered marks. Rifles appear to be unfired. Case is exceptionally fine, leather excellent as protected by outer cover which has some rubs, interior dusty with some compressions, accessories fine. (22-5821 & 22-5822/MGM). BOTH MODERN. $12,000-18,000.