*◊ GABBETT-FAIRFAX MARS M1901, LONG BARREL, CUT FOR SHOULDER STOCK.

SN 27. Cal. 8.5mm. At the turn of the last century, before the Mars Syndicate acquired his patents Hugh Gabbett-Fairfax personally made a small number of his big bore pistols, the most powerful semi-automatic pistols of their time. This early example has a bbl length of 13″, 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”. The gun is otherwise unmarked except for the SN “27” on the base of the frame which is repeated on the base of the magazine. Near the top of the backstrap is a rectangular cutout for a shoulder stock attachment. British Small Arms Committee minutes mention that a pistol with the same bbl & stock configuration was evaluated in the 1901 UK Whale Island Naval Trials. 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. Finely checkered walnut grips with circular border around screw escutcheon and a peripheral border. Concerning function, tTo 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 As the bolt is withdrawn, a cartridge from the top of the magazine is drawn backwards onto a carrier which lifts the cartridge up, above the upper magazine extension, for chambering.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 whose upper arm is missing. PROVENANCE: Ex J Schroder collection. Collection of Dr. Geoffrey Sturgess. Illustrated HBSA Journal, Vol 2 No 8. CONDITION: Orig finish with 90-95% coverage, most loss related to spotty discoloration rather than oxidation, particularly on left side of the bbl near muzzle and on the backstrap. Some of the small parts, including the hammer & several of the screw heads have been lightly polished. Light polishing has also been applied to all sides of magazine with previously noted missing extension. Comparable condition grips have oil staining and a light scattering of handling dings but no cracks or chips. Bright bore with strong rifling and light frosting. Perfect manual mechanics excepting sluggish bolt return that may need to be nudged home. One of the largest and visually impressive Gabbett-Fairfax Mars pistols, sure to please any collector. 4-52418 LMA109 (27,500-40,000) – Lot 1317

Click here to view provenance

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2014

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
	1317	$40,250.00	◊ GABBETT-FAIRFAX MARS M1901, LONG BARREL, CUT FOR SHOULDER STOCK. SN 27. Cal. 8.5mm. At the turn of the last century, before the Mars Syndicate acquired his patents Hugh Gabbett-Fairfax personally made a small number of his big bore pistols, the most powerful semi-automatic pistols of their time. This early example has a bbl length of 13″, 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”. The gun is otherwise unmarked except for the SN “27” on the base of the frame which is repeated on the base of the magazine. Near the top of the backstrap is a rectangular cutout for a shoulder stock attachment. British Small Arms Committee minutes mention that a pistol with the same bbl & stock configuration was evaluated in the 1901 UK Whale Island Naval Trials. 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. Finely checkered walnut grips with circular border around screw escutcheon and a peripheral border. Concerning function, tTo 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 whose upper arm is missing. PROVENANCE: Ex J Schroder collection. Collection of Dr. Geoffrey Sturgess. Illustrated HBSA Journal, Vol 2 No 8. CONDITION: Orig finish with 90-95% coverage, most loss related to spotty discoloration rather than oxidation, particularly on left side of the bbl near muzzle and on the backstrap. Some of the small parts, including the hammer & several of the screw heads have been lightly polished. Light polishing has also been applied to all sides of magazine with previously noted missing extension. Comparable condition grips have oil staining and a light scattering of handling dings but no cracks or chips. Bright bore with strong rifling and light frosting. Perfect manual mechanics excepting sluggish bolt return that may need to be nudged home. One of the largest and visually impressive Gabbett-Fairfax Mars pistols, sure to please any collector. 4-52418 LMA109 (27,500-40,000) – Lot 1317 Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - Fall 2014 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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*◊ GABBETT-FAIRFAX MARS M1901, LONG BARREL, CUT FOR SHOULDER STOCK.