2407

$4,025.00

VERY FINE JAMES ELLIS (CANANDAIGUA, NEW YORK) SIDE LEVER HAMMER GUN WITH, WHAT APPEARS TO BE, ORIGINAL WOOD CASE.

SN NSN. Cal. 10 ga. 2-5/8″ Chambers. 31″ Damascus bbls are engraved “James A. Ellis, Canandaigua, N.Y.” on concave game rib with long doll’s head extension. Bbl flats are stamped with British provisional proofs. Bottoms of bbls are stamped “STEEL DAMASCUS”. Side lever action with Purdey type dual locking bolt, has well filed fences. Back action rebounding sidelocks have round bodied serpentine hammers with tall spurs. Action is engraved with about 30% coverage well cut scroll, very similar to that on Barber – Lefever guns as illustrated in LEFEVER GUNS OF LASTING FAME by Elliott and Cobb. Lockplates are engraved “James Ellis”. Action and locks appear to be of American manufacture, and have no proof or other markings. Dense, lightly figured American walnut straight grip buttstock measures 13-3/4″ over checkered horn buttplate, and features point pattern checkering with mullered borders and somewhat naive drop points. Nearly fully checkered splinter forend has fancy filed steel tip, and mounts to bbls with captive side nail through shaped steel escutcheons. Bore diameter: left -.768, right -.768. Bore restrictions: left -.000 (cyl), right -.000 (cyl). Wall thickness: left -.040, right -.042. Drop at heel: 2-13/16″, drop at comb: 1-3/4″. Weight: 9 lbs 12 oz. LOP: 13-3/4″. Gun fits perfectly into unusual American walnut case with screwed-on German silver fancy corners and German silver rectangular plaque on lid engraved “Robert Neilson”. Case has brass pivoting hook closure and two leather handles, one on each half. Case has black walnut infill with space for various tin containers, four with covers are present, and another without cover, and 50 cartridges, which are not present. Interior is semi-French fitted for action, but has standard bbl channel. Case is lined in dark blue cloth. A 2-pc oak and brass homemade cleaning rod is in holder in lid. Case contains well made rosewood wad rammer and cartridge de-capper, and lignum vitae handled brass powder and shot measure, as well as a wooden walnut box containing various sized bbl hones and three containers of emery paste, rouge, and “Paravaseline Lubricator by Gun Implement Manufactory, 204 23rd St, New York”. CONDITION: Excellent. Bbls retain 90% + orig Damascus finish, giving fine definition to pattern. Action and lockplates retain a considerable amount of muted case hardening color, perhaps as much as 50%. Stocks retain most of what appears to be their orig French polish finish, with numerous light marks, dings, and scratches. Checkering is slightly worn and dirty. Bores are excellent. Action is tight. Locks are crisp. Exterior of case is excellent with some light scratches, and some oil rubbed in. Handles are good. Wooden parts of interior have their orig finish. Cloth lining appears to be renewed. Accessories are excellent. A good quality gun, which appears to be American made. James Ellis and D. M. Lefever were in partnership from 1861 – 1867. 4-53511 MGM51 (4,000-6,000) – Lot 2407

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Auction: Firearms - Fall 2014

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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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