322

Important Remington 11-48 Shotgun Gifted To Actor & Director John Huston by WWII Legend Audie Murphy

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:5,000.00 USD Estimated At:NA
Important Remington 11-48 Shotgun Gifted To Actor & Director John Huston by WWII Legend Audie Murphy
CURRENT BID
0.00USD+ applicable fees & taxes.
ENTER YOUR MAXIMUM ABSENTEE BID[?]
You must bid at least
5,000.00USD
USD
5,000.00 x 1 unit = 5,000.00USDApplicable fees & taxes are added at checkout.
[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2024 Nov 23 @ 09:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
serial #4012583, 28 ga (2 3/4”), 25” ventilated rib barrel choked full with a bright excellent bore. The history of this 1953-made shotgun is perhaps best described through the words of renowned director and screenwriter John Milius who penned a remembrance of John Huston in the Butterfield December 18, 2000 auction catalog. While cutting “Wind and the Lion”, Mr. Milius was requested by Huston to go retrieve three of his guns from the Bekins warehouse in Hollywood. These were a Merkel Model 200 in 16 ga, a Parker AH in 16 ga and this Remington Model 11-48 in 28 ga. He noted the Remington was in a rather poor state of condition so he took it to gunsmith Ted Dye who carefully refinished both metal and wood, noting that the fine maple stocks were originally fitted by Roy Weatherby. Additional included letters by the son of John Huston, Tony, details how his father was largely responsible for turning Audie Murphy into a Hollywood star, famously directing him in “The Red Badge of Courage” and “The Unforgiven”. Tony Huston believes the shotgun was given to his father by Audie shortly after “The Unforgiven” was finished. A Remington factory letter is also included noting when the gun was manufactured but unfortunately states that the shipping records are not available but conjectures that if it was sold in the Hollywood area it was probably retailed by Kerr’s Gun Shop of Beverley Hills. Also included with this gun are a copy of the May/June 2001 copy of “Shooting Sportsman” in which this gun is pictured and described in an article written by John Milius entitled “John Huston & His Guns”, a full dossier of information on Audie Murphy who really needs no introduction, a copy of Audie Murphy’s autobiography “To Hell And Back” and an original copy of the July 16, 1945 Life magazine that prominently features Audie Murphy. The metal surfaces retain about 98% fine quality commercial reapplied blue showing a few scattered light handling marks and some remnants of pinprick pitting beneath the finish along the barrel. The bolt and cartridge lifter remain bright, the original barrel markings are strong and the frame markings have been neatly reapplied by engraving post-refinishing no doubt by Ted Dye. The lovely figured maple checkered capped pistolgrip buttstock and wide forend remain in excellent condition showing a few small filler repairs along the buttstock and some sparse handling marks. The stock features slight palm swells, a very subtle semi-Monte Carlo comb, left-side rounded cheekpiece and contrasting black pistolgrip cap that has a nicely carved inlaid ivory monogram “AM” for Audie Murphy. Length-of-pull to the Pachmayr ventilated black rubber pad is 14 3/8”, the gun is sighted with a generous red bead front sight and the action seems to function well mechanically. This is a wonderful gun with fine extensive provenance connected to Hollywood masters and World War Two’s most decorated soldier. (1311738-PV3) {C&R} [John Micavich Collection] (7000/9000)