*◊ ULTRA RARE GABBETT-FAIRFAX MARS M1900, CALIBER 8.5MM.

SN 54. Cal. 8.5mm. After Hugh Gabbett-Fairfax’s bankruptcy in 1903, the Mars Automatic Pistol Syndicate bought his patents and continued to make a further 20 or so of his of big bore pistols, the most powerful semi-automatic pistols of their time, which have serial numbers from 42 or 43 to around 60. This example has a bbl length of 9-1/2″, though at least 5/8″ of that length houses the bolt. Fixed front & rear sights. Lightly hand engraved on the rib is “MARS PISTOL. 8.5MM. PATENTED.”. The SN “54″ appears on the back of the bolt housing, back of the hammer, bottom of the frontstrap and is repeated on bottom of the magazine. As true for most Gabbett-Fairfax pistols, this one is rust blued except for a few small parts, including the magazine, that were left in-the-white. Smooth walnut grips, characteristic of Syndicate made pistols, are centrally secured. To open the action, the hammer is cocked and the carrier knob twisted 45 degrees counterclockwise, which unlocks the bolt from the bbl. As the bolt is withdrawn, a cartridge from the top of the magazine is drawn backwards onto a carrier which lifts the cartridge up, above the upper magazine extension, for chambering. There is no holdopen. Releasing the carrier knob allows the bolt to fly forward and lock into place, though sometimes the carrier ears need to be nudged clockwise to lock into place. The magazine is loaded with the nose of the top bullet bearing against the elevated extension. Though very similar to the Gabbett-Fairfax M1900, SN 41, described elsewhere in this auction, there are enough differences from this Syndicate made pistol in the front sight configuration, bolt housing, frame milling and grips to be an interesting pair! PROVENANCE: Ex Visser Collection. Illustrated HBSA Journal, Vol. 2, No. 8. Collection of Dr. Geoffrey Sturgess. CONDITION: Orig blue with approx 80-85% coverage, with sharp edge wear and uniform fading, particularly under the trigger guard & frontstrap that have largely transitioned to grey. Comparable condition in-the-white parts that show age appropriate staining & oxidation. The same considerations hold true for the magazine whose protected walls are in better condition. Grips have most orig varnish scattered surface dings. Near mirror bore. Perfect manual mechanics. An very attractive & all matching Gabbett-Fairfax Mars that should appeal to every collector of automatic pistols. 4-52416 (30,000-45,000) – Lot 2260

Auction: Firearms - March 2015

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2260	$40,250.00	◊ ULTRA RARE GABBETT-FAIRFAX MARS M1900, CALIBER 8.5MM. SN 54. Cal. 8.5mm. After Hugh Gabbett-Fairfax’s bankruptcy in 1903, the Mars Automatic Pistol Syndicate bought his patents and continued to make a further 20 or so of his of big bore pistols, the most powerful semi-automatic pistols of their time, which have serial numbers from 42 or 43 to around 60. This example has a bbl length of 9-1/2″, though at least 5/8″ of that length houses the bolt. Fixed front & rear sights. Lightly hand engraved on the rib is “MARS PISTOL. 8.5MM. PATENTED.”. The SN “54″ appears on the back of the bolt housing, back of the hammer, bottom of the frontstrap and is repeated on bottom of the magazine. As true for most Gabbett-Fairfax pistols, this one is rust blued except for a few small parts, including the magazine, that were left in-the-white. Smooth walnut grips, characteristic of Syndicate made pistols, are centrally secured. To open the action, the hammer is cocked and the carrier knob twisted 45 degrees counterclockwise, which unlocks the bolt from the bbl. As the bolt is withdrawn, a cartridge from the top of the magazine is drawn backwards onto a carrier which lifts the cartridge up, above the upper magazine extension, for chambering. There is no holdopen. Releasing the carrier knob allows the bolt to fly forward and lock into place, though sometimes the carrier ears need to be nudged clockwise to lock into place. The magazine is loaded with the nose of the top bullet bearing against the elevated extension. Though very similar to the Gabbett-Fairfax M1900, SN 41, described elsewhere in this auction, there are enough differences from this Syndicate made pistol in the front sight configuration, bolt housing, frame milling and grips to be an interesting pair! PROVENANCE: Ex Visser Collection. Illustrated HBSA Journal, Vol. 2, No. 8. Collection of Dr. Geoffrey Sturgess. CONDITION: Orig blue with approx 80-85% coverage, with sharp edge wear and uniform fading, particularly under the trigger guard & frontstrap that have largely transitioned to grey. Comparable condition in-the-white parts that show age appropriate staining & oxidation. The same considerations hold true for the magazine whose protected walls are in better condition. Grips have most orig varnish scattered surface dings. Near mirror bore. Perfect manual mechanics. An very attractive & all matching Gabbett-Fairfax Mars that should appeal to every collector of automatic pistols. 4-52416 (30,000-45,000) – Lot 2260 Auction: Firearms - March 2015 Please Note:* All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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*◊ ULTRA RARE GABBETT-FAIRFAX MARS M1900, CALIBER 8.5MM.