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CUSTOM BELGIAN O/U SHOTGUN WITH GOOD QUALITY

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,250.00 USD Estimated At:2,500.00 - 4,000.00 USD
CUSTOM BELGIAN O/U SHOTGUN WITH GOOD QUALITY

ENGRAVING AND GOLD INLAY BY ROY VAIL. Cal. 28 Ga., 3”. S# 67123. Bbl. 26". Roy Vale of Warwick, New York was a noted custom gun builder in America during the post war era up until the 1970s. His work is characterized by good quality engraving & relief gold inlay. Most of the time his canvas was a good quality gun of European origin that he embellished & stocked. This gun has 26" demibloc bbls. w/ ventilated rib engraved “Roy Vail Warwick N.Y.” on top left. Bottoms of bbls. are stamped w/ 1949 Belgian nitro proofs for 3 1/2" chambers. Coin finished O/U dbl. Kirsten action is fitted w/ ornamental sideplates & features non-automatic safety (“SAFE” inlaid in gold) & Miller selective single trigger. Action is engraved w/ near full coverage sm. scroll w/ in scroll borders surrounding vignette of 3 relief gold inlaid pigeons(?) on bottom. Left lockplate depicts a setter in gold, taking an interest in 3 quail nestled under some brush. Lg. trees are engraved in background. Right side depicts a pair of obviously distraught ducks, quacking as they fly into a marsh while their hapless colleague is being snacked on by a fox. Steel triggerguard is scroll engraved to match remainder of gun. Straight grip buttstock of streaked & lightly figured European walnut measures 13 7/8" over ribbed horn buttplate & features well cut checkering w/ fleur-de-lis intrusions at grip & a gold lozenge engraved “LGC” on toeline. Matching semi-beaver tail, ejector 3 piece forend has Anson type release. MEASUREMENTS: BORE DIA.: Under .542. Over .542. BORE RESTRICTIONS: Under .010 Mod. Over .012 Mod. WALL THICKNESS: Under .038. Over .040. DAC: 1 7/16". DAH: 2 1/4". WEIGHT: 6 lbs 7 oz. CONDITION: very fine, bbls. retaining approx. 95% original blue w/ some scattered flecking. Action retains nearly all of its coin finish w/ some darkening due to congealed oil around bottom & on trigger. Buttstock retains nearly half of its original finish around action, butt portion refinished & dull w/ installation of newer buttplate. Forend retains over 80% of its original varnish. There is a 2" crack at toe, most likely caused by dropping or striking buttplate which does need attention. Bores are bright & shiny. Mechanically good. (21-3253/MGM). CURIO. $2,500-4,000.