RARE WHITNEY SAFETY GRADE 3 TRIGGER PLATE ACTION GAME GUN.

RARE WHITNEY SAFETY GRADE 3 TRIGGER PLATE ACTION GAME GUN. SN 892. Cal. 12 ga. 2-3/4″ Chambers. These well made American guns are seldom encountered in any grade with higher grades guns being extremely scarce. Probably fewer than 500 guns were ever produced by this company working between 1891-1894. (No relation to E. Whitney) This example has 30″ high quality chain Damascus bbls with flat checkered rib. Rear portion of rib is engraved “Whitney. S. F. A. Co. Florence, Mass. U. S. A.” Bbl flats are stamped “BE” with some what appear to be foreign proof marks. Splinter is stamped “3”. Unusual trigger plate action with unique long safety/ cocking lever leaves springs un-tensioned and therefore the gun is absolutely safe until grip lever is squeezed, Action locks with single under-bolt and Greener crossbolt type top fastener. Case hardened action is nicely polished, and is marked with Whitney name on right and Florence address on left side. Action is engraved with nicely cut scroll flanking vignettes of birds and dogs; a pair of snipe in marsh on left, and quail in meadow on right. Setter is in circle on bottom of action surrounded by patent date of Sept 2, 1884. Water table is stamped with SN and “3”. Finely made nicely marbled European walnut full pistol grip buttstock measures 14-3/8″ over original checkered hard rubber buttplate with Whitney Safety central logo. Point pattern semi-flat top checkering has line border. Hard rubber grip cap has beaded and floral embellishment. Nose of comb is fluted in the same manner as work done by David Kirkwood of Boston. Quality and shaping of stock, as well as checkering, are also similar to his work. Is there a connection between the two firms? Matching, slightly Schnabeled, splinter forend has inlaid ebony tip and spring tension roller fastener. Bore diameter: left -.721, right -.720. Bore restrictions: left -.033, right -.003. Wall thickness: left -.043, right -.043. Drop at heel: 2-3/4″, drop at comb: 1-1/2″. Weight: 8 lbs. 1 oz. LOP 14-3/8″. CONDITION: Excellent, as found. Bbls retain 90 – 95% orig Damascus pattern with some slight silvering and a few marks, and has browned slightly, especially around forend. Action retains a considerable amount of orig case hardening color which was never very bright. Action is mostly bright silver with some browning around bottom. Trigger plate and top lever retain over 95% orig bright charcoal blue, with 60% on trigger guard. Safety lever retains considerable amount of its orig charcoal blue, but has flaked and browned over most of the grip area. Stocks retain nearly all of their orig French polish finish, which has crazed slightly overall, with numerous small marks and stains. Toe of buttplate has chipped off and a bit of stock wood at toe is missing. Repaired piece approx 2-1/2″ x 3/16″ is on left front of forend. Bores are excellent, bright and shiny throughout. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Screw slots show use. 4-38732 MGM135 (2,000-4,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011

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
	1257	$3,737.50	RARE WHITNEY SAFETY GRADE 3 TRIGGER PLATE ACTION GAME GUN. SN 892. Cal. 12 ga. 2-3/4″ Chambers. These well made American guns are seldom encountered in any grade with higher grades guns being extremely scarce. Probably fewer than 500 guns were ever produced by this company working between 1891-1894. (No relation to E. Whitney) This example has 30″ high quality chain Damascus bbls with flat checkered rib. Rear portion of rib is engraved “Whitney. S. F. A. Co. Florence, Mass. U. S. A.” Bbl flats are stamped “BE” with some what appear to be foreign proof marks. Splinter is stamped “3”. Unusual trigger plate action with unique long safety/ cocking lever leaves springs un-tensioned and therefore the gun is absolutely safe until grip lever is squeezed, Action locks with single under-bolt and Greener crossbolt type top fastener. Case hardened action is nicely polished, and is marked with Whitney name on right and Florence address on left side. Action is engraved with nicely cut scroll flanking vignettes of birds and dogs; a pair of snipe in marsh on left, and quail in meadow on right. Setter is in circle on bottom of action surrounded by patent date of Sept 2, 1884. Water table is stamped with SN and “3”. Finely made nicely marbled European walnut full pistol grip buttstock measures 14-3/8″ over original checkered hard rubber buttplate with Whitney Safety central logo. Point pattern semi-flat top checkering has line border. Hard rubber grip cap has beaded and floral embellishment. Nose of comb is fluted in the same manner as work done by David Kirkwood of Boston. Quality and shaping of stock, as well as checkering, are also similar to his work. Is there a connection between the two firms? Matching, slightly Schnabeled, splinter forend has inlaid ebony tip and spring tension roller fastener. Bore diameter: left -.721, right -.720. Bore restrictions: left -.033, right -.003. Wall thickness: left -.043, right -.043. Drop at heel: 2-3/4″, drop at comb: 1-1/2″. Weight: 8 lbs. 1 oz. LOP 14-3/8″. CONDITION: Excellent, as found. Bbls retain 90 – 95% orig Damascus pattern with some slight silvering and a few marks, and has browned slightly, especially around forend. Action retains a considerable amount of orig case hardening color which was never very bright. Action is mostly bright silver with some browning around bottom. Trigger plate and top lever retain over 95% orig bright charcoal blue, with 60% on trigger guard. Safety lever retains considerable amount of its orig charcoal blue, but has flaked and browned over most of the grip area. Stocks retain nearly all of their orig French polish finish, which has crazed slightly overall, with numerous small marks and stains. Toe of buttplate has chipped off and a bit of stock wood at toe is missing. Repaired piece approx 2-1/2″ x 3/16″ is on left front of forend. Bores are excellent, bright and shiny throughout. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Screw slots show use. 4-38732 MGM135 (2,000-4,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011 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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