*THOMAS BLAND EXTRA FINISH BOXLOCK EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE WITH ZEISS SCOPE AND CASE.

SN 15408. Cal. 9.3 x 74R. 26″ Shoe lump bbls are fitted with full length file cut rib, center section swamped forming front sight ramp. Top of rib is engraved “T. BLAND & SONS. 430 WEST STRAND. London”. Rear portion is engraved “WINNERS OF THE” “1885” “AMERICAN RIFLE TRIALS”. Rib is fitted with claw bases for scope, one standing, two folding leaf U-notch rear sight with platinum lines marked for 100, 300, and 400 yards, and longitudinally dovetailed silver bead front sight. Ramp is fitted with slip-on sight protector. Tops of bbls are engraved with caliber on right, and “Regulated For 285 Grs Bullet” on left. Bbl flats are stamped with Birmingham nitro proofs and 1988 London nitro re-proofs for 9.3 x 74. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with SN, and a sling loop is soldered to bottom rib. Case hardened boxlock action features automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in platinum), Westley Richards type third fastener into square shouldered dolls head rib extension, bushed strikers, side clips, and double triggers with front articulated. Action is engraved with very well cut small to medium scroll with rose bouquet highlights. “T. BLAND & SONS” is on each side of action. Fences are carved in a striking high relief foliate design with stippled background, as sometimes found on Purdey guns from the 1870s and 1880s. (See pages 166-167 in JAMES PURDEY & SONS GUN AND RIFLE MAKERS by Don Dallas.) Scroll engraved top lever and floorplate are blued. Case hardened trigger guard with scroll on bow, has SN on tang. Finely marbled, dense, European walnut round knob pistol grip buttstock measures 14-1/4″ over engraved steel buttplate. Stock features drop points, point pattern checkering with mullered borders at grip. A vacant silver oval, and sling loop matching that on bbl, are on toe line. Matching splinter forend with inset horn tip, and Deeley release, is fitted with Deeley ejector. Drop at heel: approx 2-15/16″, drop at comb: approx 1-3/4″. Weight without scope: 9 lbs. 8 oz. LOP: 14-1/4″. Zeiss Diavari-C 1.5×4.5 x 8 scope with duplex reticle is in claw rings, rear ring with windage adjustment. Fine oak and leather case with brass corners and brass central medallion engraved “W.N. Vernon” “Eastham House” “Cheshire” on top is lined in burgundy cloth with Thomas Bland yellow paper labels. Case contains 3 pieces of a 4 piece cleaning rod (handle piece missing), leather wallet with mop, brush, and patch loop, case straps, and a key. PROVENANCE: Factory letter confirming specifications, and completion date of Oct 18, 1899. Target showing a 4-shot group centered on bull’s eye, with extreme spread of 1-7/8″, with load data. CONDITION: Very fine, as partially refinished. Bbls retain approx 95% of a fine re-black, with a few light marks and some thinning. Action retains a considerable amount, possibly as much as 30%, of its orig case hardening color, vivid where protected, but is mostly a pleasing pewter gray. Top lever and floorplate are re-blued, and retain nearly all of that blue. Engraving is still excellent. Stocks retain most of what appears to be their orig rubbed oil finish, with some added oil, as maintenance, with a number of minor marks and light scratches. Checkering is re-cut. Bores are excellent, bright, sharp, and shiny throughout. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are strong and in time. Scope has a few light marks in its exterior lacquer, with two fairly heavy at top right. Optics are brilliant. Case leather is very fine, still light in color, with some rubs. Straps and handle are very fine, as is interior cloth. Labels are very fine, with some light stains. Consignor states rifle shoots exceptionally well. This well balanced rifle is in a highly regarded caliber, nearly equivalent to the .375 H&H, and good for any North American and most African big game up to and including cape buffalo. 4-53687 MGM299 (12,500-17,500) – Lot 2271

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
	2271	$20,700.00	THOMAS BLAND EXTRA FINISH BOXLOCK EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE WITH ZEISS SCOPE AND CASE. SN 15408. Cal. 9.3 x 74R. 26″ Shoe lump bbls are fitted with full length file cut rib, center section swamped forming front sight ramp. Top of rib is engraved “T. BLAND & SONS. 430 WEST STRAND. London”. Rear portion is engraved “WINNERS OF THE” “1885” “AMERICAN RIFLE TRIALS”. Rib is fitted with claw bases for scope, one standing, two folding leaf U-notch rear sight with platinum lines marked for 100, 300, and 400 yards, and longitudinally dovetailed silver bead front sight. Ramp is fitted with slip-on sight protector. Tops of bbls are engraved with caliber on right, and “Regulated For 285 Grs Bullet” on left. Bbl flats are stamped with Birmingham nitro proofs and 1988 London nitro re-proofs for 9.3 x 74. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with SN, and a sling loop is soldered to bottom rib. Case hardened boxlock action features automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in platinum), Westley Richards type third fastener into square shouldered dolls head rib extension, bushed strikers, side clips, and double triggers with front articulated. Action is engraved with very well cut small to medium scroll with rose bouquet highlights. “T. BLAND & SONS” is on each side of action. Fences are carved in a striking high relief foliate design with stippled background, as sometimes found on Purdey guns from the 1870s and 1880s. (See pages 166-167 in JAMES PURDEY & SONS GUN AND RIFLE MAKERS by Don Dallas.) Scroll engraved top lever and floorplate are blued. Case hardened trigger guard with scroll on bow, has SN on tang. Finely marbled, dense, European walnut round knob pistol grip buttstock measures 14-1/4″ over engraved steel buttplate. Stock features drop points, point pattern checkering with mullered borders at grip. A vacant silver oval, and sling loop matching that on bbl, are on toe line. Matching splinter forend with inset horn tip, and Deeley release, is fitted with Deeley ejector. Drop at heel: approx 2-15/16″, drop at comb: approx 1-3/4″. Weight without scope: 9 lbs. 8 oz. LOP: 14-1/4″. Zeiss Diavari-C 1.5×4.5 x 8 scope with duplex reticle is in claw rings, rear ring with windage adjustment. Fine oak and leather case with brass corners and brass central medallion engraved “W.N. Vernon” “Eastham House” “Cheshire” on top is lined in burgundy cloth with Thomas Bland yellow paper labels. Case contains 3 pieces of a 4 piece cleaning rod (handle piece missing), leather wallet with mop, brush, and patch loop, case straps, and a key. PROVENANCE: Factory letter confirming specifications, and completion date of Oct 18, 1899. Target showing a 4-shot group centered on bull’s eye, with extreme spread of 1-7/8″, with load data. CONDITION: Very fine, as partially refinished. Bbls retain approx 95% of a fine re-black, with a few light marks and some thinning. Action retains a considerable amount, possibly as much as 30%, of its orig case hardening color, vivid where protected, but is mostly a pleasing pewter gray. Top lever and floorplate are re-blued, and retain nearly all of that blue. Engraving is still excellent. Stocks retain most of what appears to be their orig rubbed oil finish, with some added oil, as maintenance, with a number of minor marks and light scratches. Checkering is re-cut. Bores are excellent, bright, sharp, and shiny throughout. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are strong and in time. Scope has a few light marks in its exterior lacquer, with two fairly heavy at top right. Optics are brilliant. Case leather is very fine, still light in color, with some rubs. Straps and handle are very fine, as is interior cloth. Labels are very fine, with some light stains. Consignor states rifle shoots exceptionally well. This well balanced rifle is in a highly regarded caliber, nearly equivalent to the .375 H&H, and good for any North American and most African big game up to and including cape buffalo. 4-53687 MGM299 (12,500-17,500) – Lot 2271 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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*THOMAS BLAND EXTRA FINISH BOXLOCK EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE WITH ZEISS SCOPE AND CASE.