LOT Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc.  /  Auction No. 144. Rare and Historic Firearms!  / 

166

Very Fine Stephen Grant Underlever Double Hammer Rifle with Crossover Stock Made For Duke Of Leeds

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:5,500.00 USD Estimated At:NA
Very Fine Stephen Grant Underlever Double Hammer Rifle with Crossover Stock Made For Duke Of Leeds
serial #4571, 500 BPE (3'' Case), 28'' damascus barrels with bright near excellent bores showing a little fine oxidation speckling or sparse pinprick pits in the grooves with otherwise crisp Henry-style rifling. The barrels of this lovely Jones underlever double rifle retain about 80% original contrasting plum-brown and dark gray finish showing nice swirling damascus patterns throughout and most of the loss due to some old surface oxidation overall, light handling marks and one more noticeable ding on the underside of the left barrel. The barrel rib is finely matted and shows strong Stephen Grant 67A St. James Street London address while the undersides show proper London proof marks and ''38'' bore marking. The action retains perhaps 60-70% original case-hardened colors that remain quite vibrant in the protected areas drifting to a mix of silvery case-hardened patina and medium gray-brown, the action also made with a pair of deep lightening cuts along the water table. The back action lockplates are mostly a pleasant deep gray patina with wisps of vibrant colors in the protected areas and the sliding safeties retaining fine fire blue. The left hammer spur shows an old period repair that was well-executed and the firing pins are gold-washed. Both sides of the action and both lockplates are maker-marked and are embellished in near full coverage with lovely fine English filigree scrollwork. As one would expect from a fine British arm, the crossover stock is perfectly executed with the tangs and lockplates gracefully curved to match the contours of the wrist. The checkered walnut stock and splinter forend with Anson push-button release remain in very fine condition with strong original oil finish and some areas darkened from the years with scattered light dings and handling marks. There is one minor 1/2'' drying crack between the underside of the right lockplate and triggerplate which appears to be due to a knot in the wood. Stock fit is excellent throughout and the wood exhibits some wonderful flowing grain figure. The steel pistolgrip cap is embellished with a nice rope border edge and the buttplate is coarsely checkered steel with the heel engraved with load information ''120 GRAINS. NO. 6 POWDER.'' There is a silver monogram plate along the toe line that is neatly engraved with a rather difficult to discern monogram. Curiously, the monogram looks very much like that of Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll (1848-1939). The arm is equipped with sling eyes, the barrels lock up solid on-face and the locks with non-rebounding hammers are crisp and seem to function well mechanically. The arm is sighted with a fixed wide v-notch rear sight with ivory triangle insert and the front is a thin low profile ivory blade. Length-of-pull is about 14 1/8'' and weight is 8 lbs. 8 3/4 oz. Email correspondence with Atkin, Grant & Lang, holders of the Grant ledgers, indicates the rifle was made circa 1878 for the Duke of Leeds, but no other further information was listed. George Osborne, 9th Duke of Leeds (1828-1895) was obviously contemporary with Princess Louise but any thread linking Louise, George and this rifle remains quite elusive. Just a lovely rifle and something a little bit more out-of-the ordinary with its crossover stock from a fabulous London maker. (13E11565-1) {ANTIQUE} (8,000/12,000)
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