2494

VERY RARE HIGH QUALITY AND FINE CONDITION BASTIN

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,000.00 USD Estimated At:2,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
VERY RARE HIGH QUALITY AND FINE CONDITION BASTIN

PATENT SLIDING ACTION HAMMER GUN CONVERTED FROM PINFIRE. Cal. 16 Ga., 2 1/2". S# 658. Guns on this unique action are invariably of high quality and date to the early 1860s. James Purdey is known to have made 34 guns and 7 rifles on this patent. It has a toggling mechanism similar to the Borschardt and Luger as well as the French Darne shotgun. This particular gun has 29 7/8" stub twist bbls. engraved "Jh Moore London" on narrow game rib. Beautifully made bright blued sliding action is fitted with case hardened penninsula backspring locks having short serpentine rebounding hammers. Action was originally pinfire and has scroll engraved platforms on top and corresponding filled areas of breech ends of bbls. Conversion is very neatly done. Locks converted to rebounding with professional fill in front of half cock notch on tumblers and lengthening of stirrups. Bottoms of bbls., action operating lever and water table are stamped "BASTIN FRERES". Water table and toggling parts are stamped "ACIER" (steel). Action and lockplates are engraved with exceptionally fine deep relief acanthus scroll in Germanic style which surrounds well-detailed dog scenes on lockplates with setter on left lock and creeping spaniel on right. Newer hammers are nonrelief engraved to match. Front portion of action and forward operating lever have inset checkered horn plates. Trigger guard has fancy filed steel bow with matching relief acanthus scroll at front and scene of standing buck on top. Horn grip extension has very fancy scroll carved finial with steel pricker. Buttstock of very fine marbled and stump figured European walnut measures 14 7/8" over steel buttplate with long relief engraved top spur which is on 5/8" later extension. This extension is exceptionally well matched with painted in grain. Wood inlays are evident along top tang as well. Stock features swept right hand cheekpiece, exceptionally well cut grip checkering which extends completely around locks as well as around toeline which is fitted with vacant brass shield and sling eye matching that soldered to bbl. MEASUREMENTS: BBLS: Bore Diameter: R .690", L .687". Restriction: R .004" (IC), L .003" (IC). Min. Wall Thickness: R .035", L .033". STOCK: DAH: 2 5/8". DAC: 1 1/2". LOP: 14 7/8". CAST: neutral. WEIGHT: 7 lb. 14 oz. CONDITION: very fine as refurbished probably by factory at time of conversion to centerfire. Bbls. retaining over 80% brown with good definiton to pattern. Action retains over 90% of its bright blue, silvered on high points of engraving on operating lever and top tang. Locks retain a fair quantity of their original case hardening color where protected which has hand worn to silver highlights on tails. Trigger guard retains over 80% of its bright blue. Buttstock retains over 90% of what is probably a renewed French polish done at time of lengthening. It also exhibits a fair scattering of light scratches and a few deeper dings. Checkering is lightly worn. There is evidence of a small repair at left side of top tang behind hammer. Horn panels and trigger guard finial are all very fine without any noted breaks or insect damage. Bores are bright and shiny. Exceptionally smooth action is tight. Locks are crisp. (01-21704/MGM). ANTIQUE. $2,000-4,000.