2343

VERY FINE J. P. SAUER BOXLOCK EJECTOR HEAVY GAME

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
VERY FINE J. P. SAUER BOXLOCK EJECTOR HEAVY GAME
GUN MADE FOR ERNEST LOUIS , THE LAST GRAND DUKE OF HESSE - DARMSTADT BY LOUIS DELP, HOFBUCHSENMACHER. Cal. 12 Ga. S# 66070. Bbls. 29 1/8" shoe lump w/ nicely matted concave game rib are engraved "J. P. Sauer & Sohn Suhl" on tops, along w/ Krupp special steel 3 ring logos. Inlaid gold lines at breech ends. Crossbolt rib extension is inlaid "II", as gun is No. 2 of a pair. (I is also in this auction) w/ "II" on top lever & forend tip. Bbl. flats are stamped w/ Prussian black powder proofs & w/ crown but no nitro marks. A sling eye is screwed to bottom rib. Casehardened boxlock action features automatic safety & dbl. triggers (front articulated), along w/ a crossbolt third fastener. Action & bbls. procured from Sauer were finished & engraved by Delp w/ distinctive ogee back to action. Engraving consists of 80% coverage; very sm. scroll w/ top of action having lg. open scroll in matted background. "LOUIS DELP HOFBUCHSENMACHER" is in horseshoe on left side of action & "IN. DARMSTARDT" is in similar device on right. Trigger guard is of horn. Nicely fiddle figured & lightly veined European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14 5/8" over brown leather covered pad. Stock features drop points & point pattern checkering at grip. A sling eye is on toeline along w/ gold oval engraved w/ monogram "EL" flanked by date "18" "95" all surmounted by a sovereigns crown. (Ernest Louis' mother was Alice, the second daughter of Victoria & Albert. He spent much of his childhood in England & married the daughter of the Duke of Edinburgh. A complete history is attached as provenance.) Matching splinter ejector forend has Anson release. Bore diameter: left - .732, choke .037 (full), right - .727, choke .005 (IC). Wall thickness: left - .028, right - .029. DAC: 1 1/2". DAH: 2 3/8". Neutral Cast. LOP: 14 5/8". WEIGHT: 6 lbs. 14 oz. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: letter detailing the family history of the royalty. CONDITION: fine, as partially refinished. Bbls. retain nearly all of a good quality reblack. Action retains approx. 30% original casehardening color, darkened & freckled on bottom. Stocks retain nearly all of a hand rubbed oil refinish, checkering recut, wood slightly below metal at action. Bores are excellent. Action is tight. Bbls. are on face. Ejectors are in time. (19-5439/MGM7). CURIO. $3,000-4,000.