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WONDERFUL 20 GAUGE SIDELOCK EJECTOR SINGLE

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:7,500.00 USD Estimated At:15,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD
WONDERFUL 20 GAUGE SIDELOCK EJECTOR SINGLE

TRIGGER LIGHT GAME GUN BY F. BEESLEY WITH ORIGINAL CASE AND ACCESSORIES. Cal. 20 Ga., 2 3/4". S# 2000 (made in 1907). Bbl. 28". Frederick Beesley was the inventor of Purdey’s famous self-opening action & was originally a Purdey craftsman. He left the firm circa. 1880 to work on his own & is often referred to as “The Inventor to the Trade” as he had over 20 patents representing all factions of gun making. This fine little gun exhibits his normal high quality of workmanship & distinctive styling. It has 28" chopper lump bbls. engraved “F. Beesley 2 St. James’s Street London Pall Mall Corner” on swamped, narrow game rib. Tops of both bbls. are engraved “WHITWORTHS FLUID PRESSED STEEL”. Bbl. flats are stamped w/ London nitro proofs for 20 Ga., 2 1/2" chambers & later, Birmingham nitro proofs for 2 3/4". Both bbls. are proofed at .615. Tube numbers 38114 & 38115 are stamped on loop. Small size case hardened side lock action is stocked to the fences & features non-automatic safety ("SAFE" inlaid in gold) & Beesley patent single nonselective trigger. Action & lockplates are engraved w/ near full coverage, classic British rose & small scroll. Bottom of action is engraved "Beesleys Patent" & lockplates are engraved “BEESLEY LONDON” “PATENT” in scrolled device w/ central crown. Fences are carved in large fern motif, a signature for Beesley made guns. Blued top lever is engraved “PATENT” & small bow triggerguard w/ scroll on bow has serial number on tang. Superbly marbled & nicely figured flesh tone European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14 3/8" over brown leather covered pad. Stock features drop points, closely spaced flat top point pattern checkering w/ mullered borders at grip, & a silver oval on toeline engraved “AMY PEABODY” (no information found). Matching small splinter ejector forend has Anson release. MEASUREMENTS: BORE DIA.: Left .615. Right .616. BORE RESTRICTIONS: Left .015 Mod. Right .015 Mod. WALL THICKNESS: Left .022. Right .021. DAH: 2 3/8". DAC: 1 1/2-". Face has considerable sweep, creating cast off (Ms. Peabody was full faced). WEIGHT: 5 lbs 9 oz. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: gun is housed in its original oak & leather case w/ brass corners. Case is lined in scarlet cloth & has correct address, "F. Beesley" large paper label inscribed w/ this guns serial number, loads, & chokes in lid. Case contains 2 piece brass & ebony cleaning rod, brown leather wallet containing pull through cleaning kit, ebony handled chamber brush, ebony handled turn screw. Horn handled dusting brush, unmarked square oil bottle, heavy plated striker bottle, horn bodied brass snap caps & box of Holland & Holland gun cleaning patches, as well as the original key. Also included is a December 1989 invoice from ex-Purdey craftsman Alfred Gallifent outlining repair work done to this gun including some barrel work, striping & cleaning, rejoining, & blacking bbls. for a total of $815.00. CONDITION: very fine w/ some restoration. Bbls. retaining nearly all of a best London style reblack. All engraving remains clear. Action retains most of its original case hardening color, which is quite vivid where protected. High edges of fences & beads are silvered & color around bottom of action is slightly fading. Lockplates retain over 90% of their original color. Top lever & triggerguard have been reblued & retain nearly all of that blue. Stocks retain most of what appears to be their original oil finish w/ oil added as maintenance over some light inconsequential scratches. Checkering is lightly worn. Mullered borders appear to be cleaned. Pad is relatively new. Bores are bright & shiny w/ few noted indications of any blemishes. Action is tight, bbls. are on face. Mechanical trigger appears to work well. Case leather is heavily crazed & has been conserved. A newer rectangle is let into top. Interior cloth is very good w/ some light soiling. Label is lightly foxed & has some rubs through at central left. Partitions are tight. Accessories appear to be new & are generally excellent. A quick handling, sublime little gun. (21-3279/MGM). CURIO. $15,000-20,000.