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FACTORY ENGRAVED PIGEON GRADE WINCHESTER MODEL

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:2,500.00 USD Estimated At:5,000.00 - 7,000.00 USD
FACTORY ENGRAVED PIGEON GRADE WINCHESTER MODEL
1912 BLACK DIAMOND PUMP SHOTGUN W/ EXTRA BBLS. Cal. 12 ga., 2 5/8". S# 157187. Pigeon-grade engraving by John Gough, an engraver for the Winchester Factory, that features pointing dogs and a woodcock on the right side. The left-side marsh scene features four flying mallards. Scenes are surrounded by scroll, punch-dot backgrounds, and fancy borders that extend to the receiver's top and forward areas, as well as the trigger guard. The top of the receiver, forward of the stock, has a circular vignette featuring a quail. Bbl. 1: original 30" nickel steel with solid rib and fixed full choke. White target front sight with white mid bead. Small round forearm of fancy walnut with wraparound pigeon-grade checkering. Bbl. 2: 26" of nickel steel with a solid rib and cyl. choke. Bbl. is marked mod. 1912. Steel front bead. Small round forearm of fancy walnut with pigeon-grade wraparound checkering. Bbl. is added at a later time with a hand-stamped S#. Bbl. 3: 26" of proof steel with a solid rib and a fixed WS-1 choke. Red target front sight with white mid-bead Later beavertail forearm of fancy walnut with three diamond pigeon-grade checkering. Bbl. is added at a later date with the hand stamp S#. Straight grip stock of fancy walnut with pigeon-grade checkering and black diamonds on both sides of the wrist. LOP: 13 1/2" over an aftermarket Pachmayr presentation pad. Mfg. 1917. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: Hand written letter from Pauline Muerrle dated Oct. 6.14 stating the engraver and that this is "an excellent example of a rare early Pigeon Grade Model 12. CONDITION: action and original 30" bbl. retains 90% lightly faded blue, showing slide and edge wear with small spots of pitting on the receiver. Bbl. 1 has a very good, bright bore. Four notches are taken up on the headspace ring. Bbl. 2 has 70% dull fading blue showing scattered spots of corrosion with a touch-up finish on the receiver extension. Headspace ring is taken up five notches. Good, bright bore. Bbl. 3 retains over 90% blue, showing slide wear. Very good, bright bore. The lightly refinished stock shows finish wear with light handling marks and very small chips on both sides of the trigger guard tang. Forearm on bbl. 1 shows light refinished with very good checkering. The forearm on bbl. 2 is refinished with thinned checkering. The forearm on bbl. 3 has an original finish with light wear showing scattered scratches and marks. The action is tight and sound. (23-5158/DS). CURIO. $5,000-7,000.