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VERY SCARCE AND IMPRESSIVE C. HUNT & CO. "ROYAL

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:6,250.00 USD Estimated At:12,500.00 - 17,500.00 USD
VERY SCARCE AND IMPRESSIVE C. HUNT & CO.  ROYAL

CHAMPIONSHIP PIGEON GUN". Cal. 12 Ga. S# 17086. This sidelock ejector double trigger robust gun has some very interesting features. The 27 5/8" dovetailed bbls. are fitted with narrow matted game rib having large square shouldered doll's head extension engraved "VARRIALES PATENT" (no references found). Tops of bbls. are engraved "The Royal Championship Pigeon Gun" and "C. Hunt & Co. Ltd. Birmingham & London." (working at 2-3 Vesey St. Birmingham, 1908-19). There are four 1 1/2" triangles of well cut scroll at breech ends. Bbl. flats are stamped with Birmingham nitro proofs for 2 1/2" chambers. Bottoms of bbls. are engraved "SIR J. WHITWORTH'S COMPRESSED FLUID STEEL" and with tube numbers 35952/3. Sheaf of Wheat trademarks are stamped, and bbls. are also engraved with maker's name. Robust side lock action has large deep fences to accommodate unusual dual square cross bolt third, and pivoting fourth fasteners. Action also features nonautomatic safety ("SAFE" in gold), side clips, gold band tumbler end cocking indicators and double triggers (front articulated). Action and lockplates are engraved with full coverage exceptionally well cut small shaded scroll surrounding rose bouquets. "C. HUNT & CO. Ltd" is inlaid in gold on right lockplate. "BIRMINGHAM & LONDON" are in gold on left. A sovereign's crown is gold inlaid on blued top lever and trigger guard bow is gold inlaid "THE ROYAL" "CHAMPIONSHIP" "PIGEON" "GUN" on pleated ribbon device. Serial number is on trigger guard tang. "C. Hunt & Co. Ltd." is engraved on scroll outlined ribbon on watertable and forend iron. Straight grip buttstock of beautifully marbled and lightly burl figured, flesh toned European walnut, measures 14 1/4" over checkered wood butt. Checkering is on oval plug which covers stock hollowed for balance. Flat top checkering at grip has very fancy crenelated border. Matching splinter Southgate ejector forend has Anson release. Checkering has ribbons through pattern. A gold inlaid pigeon is sitting on the edge of a box on shaped central escutcheon. MEASUREMENTS: BBLS.: Bore Diameter: R: .732", L: .732". Restrictions: R: .041" (EXTRA FULL), L: .043" (EXTRA FULL). (Chokes with long tapered leads start 6" behind muzzles.) Minimum Wall Thickness: R: .036", L: .034". STOCK: DAH: 2 3/16". DAC: 1 9/16". CAST: approx. 1/4" off. LOP: 14 1/4". WEIGHT: 7 lbs. 9 oz. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: gun comes with an older brown canvas case with stitched leather corners by Brady. Case contains cleaning equipment, snap caps and oil bottle. CONDITION: exceptionally fine as is partially refinished. Bbls. retaining near all of what appears to be their original blue but are most likely a very sympathetic reblue with very little polishing. I say this because there is no wear evident on both sides of bbls. above forend, which does show some wear. Action and lockplates retain nearly all of what appears to be their original casehardening color. Again, there is very little wear evident on beads where expected. However, there are extractor wipe marks on breech face and some silver evident on watertable from use. Top lever is slightly brown on thumb piece, and trigger guard shows considerable blue loss from flaking and silvering on grip. Stocks retain nearly all of what appears their original oil finish; possibly an old light refinish with some minor marks, checkering is somewhat worn. This wear matches that found on forend and escutcheon with gold pigeon which is considerably silvered. Bores are bright and shiny without any noted problems. Action is tight. Bbls. are on face. Ejectors are in time. There are two holes in bottom rib plugged with screws where a sling loop would be attached, but it does not appear that any loop was installed. There is no corresponding hole in toe line. Case shows some exterior wear. Interior cloth is fine with some impressions. This is truly a wonderful gun. (22-1137/MGM). CURIO. $12,500-17,500.