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GOOD QUALITY HAMMER DOUBLE RIFLE BY W. FOERSTER OF

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,000.00 USD Estimated At:2,000.00 - 2,750.00 USD
GOOD QUALITY HAMMER DOUBLE RIFLE BY W. FOERSTER OF

BERLIN. Cal. 43 Mauser. NSN. The 26 3/4" dovetail bbls. are engraved "W. Foerster Konigl: Hofbuchesenm: Berlin" (gunmaker to the King). On full length partially matted rib fitted w/ U-notch rear & silver bead front sights. Rear portion of rib is stamped w/ crowned "V" proof, indicating rifle was in existence before 1891 proof laws. Bbl. flats are unmarked, as are bottoms of bbls. A sling loop is attached to bottom rib. Rnd. bodied underlever action fitted w/ penninsula backspring rebounding locks have rnd. bodied serpentine hammers with tall spurs. Rear portion of action is nicely radiused as found on best German guns of the period. Action & locks are engraved w/ about 70% coverage very nicely cut varying size scroll within scroll borders. Both triggers are set. Trigger guard of steel ends in scrolled horn grip. Straight grip buttstock of burl figured European walnut measures 14 3/16" over checkered steel buttplate & features swept right hand cheekpiece, point pattern checkering, & a sling loop on toeline. Splinter forend is captive as are many German guns & rifles of this period, is near fully checkered & has a very unusual Deeley type release instead of the sidebolt as normally found. WEIGHT: 7 lb. 9 oz. CONDITION: good to very good, bbls. retaining 70-80% old possibly original black, considerably worn on sides from normal hand wear. Action appears to be originally coin finished & has been cleaned to brighten this finish. Engraving still sharp & clear. Stocks retain most of an old oil refinish over numerous marks, some fairly deep. Checkering does not appear to have been recut. Bores are good to fine w/ strong Henry type rifling, lightly pitted throughout. Action is tight. Locks are fine. There is a large 5" shrinkage crack on left side of butt behind & below cheekpiece that appears to be relatively recent. The Roman numeral "III" has been stamped into bottom of action. Forend & bbl. show areas of prying & chipping in attempt to remove this captive forend. With its Deeley latch, it truly looks as though forend should be removable & bbl. does not have to be lifted out. PROVENANCE: Estate of Frank Glenn Marsh. (01-21521/MGM). ANTIQUE. $2,000-2,750.