EXTRAORDINARY RELIEF ENGRAVED AND TWO COLOR GOLD INLAID HAMMER GUN BY IMMANUAL MEFFERT AND J. NOWOTNY, MADE FOR AUSTRIA – HUNGARY PRIME MINISTER COUNT GYULA ANDRASSY.

SN 3348. Cal. 12 ga. 2-1/2″ Chambers. 31-3/8″ Damascus bbls are gold inlaid “Imman. Meffert in Suhl” on top rib. A gold numeral “2” is inlaid at breech end denoting that this is one gun of a pair. “2” is also at rear of top tang. Rear portion of rib and breech ends of bbls are two color gold flush inlaid with oak leaves and acorns. A sling loop is soldered to bottom rib. Round bodied forward pivoting lever action has captive forearm, and is fitted with peninsula back action rebounding locks, with round bodied serpentine hammers having high spurs. Action and lockplates are beautifully engraved in high relief with a mixture of scrolling, oak leaves, and acorns, as background to fine, almost lifelike, high relief renditions of game and dogs; a pair of pointers, one pointing, the other honoring point, are on left side, and two foxes contemplate a flushing duck and snipe on left lockplate. Right action depicts a pair of fighting black game cock, while the right lockplate shows a spaniel contemplating a trio of feeding pheasant. Hammers continue the theme of relief engraved oak leaves, with leaves on the side gold inlaid, with branches and acorns in darker gold, leaves bright. This gold inlay extends to top tang of action. Right lockplate is relief engraved “NOWOTNY” and the left “IN PRAG”. Pivot of opening lever is also oak leaf engraved. Lever itself is sheathed in horn with checkered tip. Trigger guard bow is also oak leaf engraved, with gold inlaid oak leaves at either end of gold wire oval surrounding what is most likely the family crest of Count Andrassy, an intertwined “GA” surmounted by a sovereign’s crown (indicating that he was the prime minister of Hungary at the time this gun was made. He was in office between Feb. 1867 and Nov. 1871. He later was the foreign minister of Austria-Hungary, in office from Nov. 1871 – Oct 1879). Nicely marbled and lightly figured European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-1/4″ over checkered horn buttplate. Trigger guard has scroll carved horn extension forming a pistol grip. Stock features right hand cheekpiece, sling loop and a combination of point pattern checkering with double line border at grip, and skip line checkering extending forward around lockplates to back of action. Captive forend is sheathed in wood, which is nearly fully checkered. The flat area covered by operating lever when action is closed, is skip line checkered. Bbls attach to forend with side nail through engraved steel escutcheons. Bore diameter: left -.715, right -.715. Bore restrictions: left -.000, right -.000 (gun was made before choke was invented). Minimum wall thickness: left -.050, right -.047. Drop at heel: 2-1/4″, drop at comb: 1-3/8″. Weight: 7 lbs 12 oz. LOP: 14-1/4″. PROVENANCE: Wikipedia notes on life and times of Count Andrassy. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbls retain approx 60% orig brown, with some overall flecking, and an area of light pitting and cleaning about 11″ back from muzzle of right bbl. Coin finish of action is still a very pleasing silver with exceptional engraving nicely highlighted. Screw slots are all very fine, showing very little use. Stocks retain most of what appears to be their orig oil finish with a number of light and somewhat deeper knocks and scratches. Checkering is lightly worn at grip, a bit more worn on forend from normal hand wear. Bores are excellent. Action is tight. Locks are crisp. A truly exceptional royal quality gun with great dimensions. 4-54002 (5,000-8,000) – Lot 2358

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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
	2358	$5,750.00	EXTRAORDINARY RELIEF ENGRAVED AND TWO COLOR GOLD INLAID HAMMER GUN BY IMMANUAL MEFFERT AND J. NOWOTNY, MADE FOR AUSTRIA – HUNGARY PRIME MINISTER COUNT GYULA ANDRASSY. SN 3348. Cal. 12 ga. 2-1/2″ Chambers. 31-3/8″ Damascus bbls are gold inlaid “Imman. Meffert in Suhl” on top rib. A gold numeral “2” is inlaid at breech end denoting that this is one gun of a pair. “2” is also at rear of top tang. Rear portion of rib and breech ends of bbls are two color gold flush inlaid with oak leaves and acorns. A sling loop is soldered to bottom rib. Round bodied forward pivoting lever action has captive forearm, and is fitted with peninsula back action rebounding locks, with round bodied serpentine hammers having high spurs. Action and lockplates are beautifully engraved in high relief with a mixture of scrolling, oak leaves, and acorns, as background to fine, almost lifelike, high relief renditions of game and dogs; a pair of pointers, one pointing, the other honoring point, are on left side, and two foxes contemplate a flushing duck and snipe on left lockplate. Right action depicts a pair of fighting black game cock, while the right lockplate shows a spaniel contemplating a trio of feeding pheasant. Hammers continue the theme of relief engraved oak leaves, with leaves on the side gold inlaid, with branches and acorns in darker gold, leaves bright. This gold inlay extends to top tang of action. Right lockplate is relief engraved “NOWOTNY” and the left “IN PRAG”. Pivot of opening lever is also oak leaf engraved. Lever itself is sheathed in horn with checkered tip. Trigger guard bow is also oak leaf engraved, with gold inlaid oak leaves at either end of gold wire oval surrounding what is most likely the family crest of Count Andrassy, an intertwined “GA” surmounted by a sovereign’s crown (indicating that he was the prime minister of Hungary at the time this gun was made. He was in office between Feb. 1867 and Nov. 1871. He later was the foreign minister of Austria-Hungary, in office from Nov. 1871 – Oct 1879). Nicely marbled and lightly figured European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-1/4″ over checkered horn buttplate. Trigger guard has scroll carved horn extension forming a pistol grip. Stock features right hand cheekpiece, sling loop and a combination of point pattern checkering with double line border at grip, and skip line checkering extending forward around lockplates to back of action. Captive forend is sheathed in wood, which is nearly fully checkered. The flat area covered by operating lever when action is closed, is skip line checkered. Bbls attach to forend with side nail through engraved steel escutcheons. Bore diameter: left -.715, right -.715. Bore restrictions: left -.000, right -.000 (gun was made before choke was invented). Minimum wall thickness: left -.050, right -.047. Drop at heel: 2-1/4″, drop at comb: 1-3/8″. Weight: 7 lbs 12 oz. LOP: 14-1/4″. PROVENANCE: Wikipedia notes on life and times of Count Andrassy. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbls retain approx 60% orig brown, with some overall flecking, and an area of light pitting and cleaning about 11″ back from muzzle of right bbl. Coin finish of action is still a very pleasing silver with exceptional engraving nicely highlighted. Screw slots are all very fine, showing very little use. Stocks retain most of what appears to be their orig oil finish with a number of light and somewhat deeper knocks and scratches. Checkering is lightly worn at grip, a bit more worn on forend from normal hand wear. Bores are excellent. Action is tight. Locks are crisp. A truly exceptional royal quality gun with great dimensions. 4-54002 (5,000-8,000) – Lot 2358 Click here to view provenance 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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EXTRAORDINARY RELIEF ENGRAVED AND TWO COLOR GOLD INLAID HAMMER GUN BY IMMANUAL MEFFERT AND J. NOWOTNY, MADE FOR AUSTRIA – HUNGARY PRIME MINISTER COUNT GYULA ANDRASSY.