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FINE QUALITY THUMBHOLE OPENING HAMMER SHOTGUN BY

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,000.00 USD Estimated At:2,000.00 - 3,500.00 USD
FINE QUALITY THUMBHOLE OPENING HAMMER SHOTGUN BY

CHARLES MALEHAM. Cal. 12 Ga., 2 5/8". S# 1267. This fine gun built to Purdey's patent has 28" Damascus bbls. engraved "Chas H. Maleham 5 Westbar Sheffield. No 1267." on medium width game rib. Bbl. flats are stamped with London black powder proofs. Case hardened round bar Purdey third type thumbhole action is fitted with penninsula backspring locks with serpentine rebounding hammers. Water table is stamped "JP Patent No 1104" with use number "4242". It is also stamped "Patent Bolt". Action and lockplates are engraved with 80% coverage very well cut small scroll. Maker's name is at the top of each lockplate. Thumbhole trigger guard with scroll on bow has serial number on tang. Straight grip buttstock of well marbled and nicely stump figured European walnut measures 14 5/8" over original checkered horn buttplate. Flat top point pattern checkering is at grip and a gold oval engraved with the monogram "CDO"? is on toeline. Matching splinter forend with shaped steel tip has pushbutton Deeley type release. Button is stamped with W. C. Scott lighthouse logo over "PATENT". MEASUREMENTS: BBLS: Bore Diameter: R .734", L .735". Recess Choke: R .021" (MOD), L .021" (MOD). This treatment appears to be original and was an early method of concentrating shot pattern and is quite effective. Min. Wall Thickness: R .018" bottom of recess .027" elsewhere, L .018" top of recess, .025" elsewhere. STOCK: DAH: 2" DAC: 1 11/16". LOP: 14 5/8". CAST: approx. 1/4" off. WEIGHT: 6 lb. 14 oz. CONDITION: very good to fine original as found with bbls. retaining most of their brown with good definition to pattern. Finish is thinning on sides and there is some scattered light mottling. Action and locks retain 10-25% case hardening color; balance is handworn to gray/brown. There is also some brown spotting on right lockplate. Stocks retain most of their original oil finish with a large number of small and medium nicks and dings. Checkering is somewhat worn. Bores are mostly shiny with some considerable pitting toward breech ends. There are no noted repairs or dents. Action is tight. Locks are fine. (01-21618/MGM). CURIO. $2,000-3,500.