*EXCEPTIONALLY FINE BRACE OF E.J. CHURCHILL PREMIER XXV EASY OPENING SIDELOCK EJECTOR “REPEATING TRIGGER” GAME GUNS WITH CASE, MADE FOR ANNE LAURIE CRAWFORD.

SN 5355/ 5356. (1936) Cal. 12 ga. 2-3/4″ Chambers (pigeon), 2-1/2″ chambers (quail). 25″ Chopper lump bbls with narrow, matted, Churchill ribs are gold inlaid “XXV” and with either a pigeon or quail at breech ends. This brace has one gun open choked (quail) and the other tightly choked (pigeon). These birds are also inlaid on opening levers and forend tips. Tops of bbls are engraved with E. J. Churchill’s Orange Street address, and have 1-1/2″ triangles of well cut scroll at breech ends. Bbl flats are stamped with London nitro proofs for 2-1/2″ chambers. SNs are on bottoms of bbls. Case hardened, Baker patent easy opening, sidelock actions feature automatic safeties, gold band tumbler end cocking indicators, and Churchill’s unique repeating double triggers with selector stud at rear of trigger guard bows to make front trigger function as a single trigger. Fewer than 70 Churchill guns were made with this mechanism. Actions are engraved with nearly full coverage exceptionally well cut medium shaded scroll with scrolled borders. “E. J. Churchill” is in scroll terminated riband on each lockplate. Bottoms of actions are engraved “Premier” “Finest” “Quality”. The aforementioned pigeon and quail are gold inlaid on blued top levers. Double beaded trigger guards are gold inlaid with monogram “ALC” on bows. SNs are on short tangs. Beautifully matched, finely marbled, and lightly figured European walnut straight grip buttstocks measure 14-1/2″ over checkered wood butts, and feature standard drop points and point pattern checkering with mullered borders. Matching splinter ejector forends with gold inlaid birds on tips have Anson releases. QUAIL Gun: Bore diameter: left -.727, right -.726. Bore restrictions: left -.018 (Mod), right -.009 (IC). Minimum wall thickness: left -.029, right -.029. Drop at heel: 2-1/16″, drop at comb: 1-7/16″, considerably cast off. Weight: 5 lbs 14 oz. LOP: 14-1/2″. PIGEON Gun: Bore diameter: left -.726, right -.726. Bore restrictions: left -.032 (full), right -.017 (Mod). Minimum wall thickness: left -.031, right -.030. Drop at heel: 2-1/8″, drop at comb: 1-1/2-“. Weight: 5 lbs 14 oz. LOP: 14-1/2” cast off. Makers VC two gun leather case with stitched leather corners, is gold embossed “A.L. Crawford” on top. Interior is lined in burgundy cloth and has central folding partition to separate guns. Celluloid labels are attached to partition, one marked with E.J. Churchill Orange Street, and the other “The VC Gun Case, sole makers E. J. Churchill”. A glued-in instruction label states “CHURCHILL GUNS Nos. 5355/6 SPECIAL REPEATING TRIGGER MECHANISM. The stud behind the rear trigger controls the mechanism. A slight pressure on the stud from the left hand side will push it over to the right and in this position the gun can be used as a Single Trigger. The front trigger will fire R – L and the rear trigger L – R. To cut out the Single Trigger push stud from right to left. The gun can be used as a Double Trigger whatever the position of the stud.” Case contains 2-pc rosewood and brass cleaning rod with mop, jag and brush in leather wallet, and an unmarked round oil bottle. PROVENANCE: Biographical info on Russell Aiken avid conservationist, big game hunter and associate editor of Field and Stream. His first wife Anne L. Crawford for whom these guns were made, was the mother of Martha (Sunny) Von Bulow. Notes on these guns. George Reeb Collection. CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, showing very limited field use. Bbls retain 95%+ orig blue with a few light marks and dings. Actions retain 85 – 90% orig case hardening color, silvering on beads and lightly on fences. “Quail” action possibly has a bit stronger color, especially on bottom. Top levers and trigger guards show slight silvering, more silvering at grips. Pins and selector buttons retain nearly all of their vibrant temper blue. Safety buttons are slightly silvered. Stocks retain nearly all of a very fine oil refinish over 2″ almost undetectable lengthening pieces, with a few light marks. Forends retain nearly all of their orig finish. Bores are excellent. Actions are tight. Bbls are on face. Mechanically crisp. Triggers function flawlessly. Case leather is very fine with a number of light rubs and scratches. Handles are good. Interior cloth is fine. Partitions have been moved slightly to accommodate longer stocks. Accessories are fine. A lovely pair of guns. 4-53718 (25,000-40,000) – Lot 2418

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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
	2418	$34,500.00	EXCEPTIONALLY FINE BRACE OF E.J. CHURCHILL PREMIER XXV EASY OPENING SIDELOCK EJECTOR “REPEATING TRIGGER” GAME GUNS WITH CASE, MADE FOR ANNE LAURIE CRAWFORD. SN 5355/ 5356. (1936) Cal. 12 ga. 2-3/4″ Chambers (pigeon), 2-1/2″ chambers (quail). 25″ Chopper lump bbls with narrow, matted, Churchill ribs are gold inlaid “XXV” and with either a pigeon or quail at breech ends. This brace has one gun open choked (quail) and the other tightly choked (pigeon). These birds are also inlaid on opening levers and forend tips. Tops of bbls are engraved with E. J. Churchill’s Orange Street address, and have 1-1/2″ triangles of well cut scroll at breech ends. Bbl flats are stamped with London nitro proofs for 2-1/2″ chambers. SNs are on bottoms of bbls. Case hardened, Baker patent easy opening, sidelock actions feature automatic safeties, gold band tumbler end cocking indicators, and Churchill’s unique repeating double triggers with selector stud at rear of trigger guard bows to make front trigger function as a single trigger. Fewer than 70 Churchill guns were made with this mechanism. Actions are engraved with nearly full coverage exceptionally well cut medium shaded scroll with scrolled borders. “E. J. Churchill” is in scroll terminated riband on each lockplate. Bottoms of actions are engraved “Premier” “Finest” “Quality”. The aforementioned pigeon and quail are gold inlaid on blued top levers. Double beaded trigger guards are gold inlaid with monogram “ALC” on bows. SNs are on short tangs. Beautifully matched, finely marbled, and lightly figured European walnut straight grip buttstocks measure 14-1/2″ over checkered wood butts, and feature standard drop points and point pattern checkering with mullered borders. Matching splinter ejector forends with gold inlaid birds on tips have Anson releases. QUAIL Gun: Bore diameter: left -.727, right -.726. Bore restrictions: left -.018 (Mod), right -.009 (IC). Minimum wall thickness: left -.029, right -.029. Drop at heel: 2-1/16″, drop at comb: 1-7/16″, considerably cast off. Weight: 5 lbs 14 oz. LOP: 14-1/2″. PIGEON Gun: Bore diameter: left -.726, right -.726. Bore restrictions: left -.032 (full), right -.017 (Mod). Minimum wall thickness: left -.031, right -.030. Drop at heel: 2-1/8″, drop at comb: 1-1/2-“. Weight: 5 lbs 14 oz. LOP: 14-1/2” cast off. Makers VC two gun leather case with stitched leather corners, is gold embossed “A.L. Crawford” on top. Interior is lined in burgundy cloth and has central folding partition to separate guns. Celluloid labels are attached to partition, one marked with E.J. Churchill Orange Street, and the other “The VC Gun Case, sole makers E. J. Churchill”. A glued-in instruction label states “CHURCHILL GUNS Nos. 5355/6 SPECIAL REPEATING TRIGGER MECHANISM. The stud behind the rear trigger controls the mechanism. A slight pressure on the stud from the left hand side will push it over to the right and in this position the gun can be used as a Single Trigger. The front trigger will fire R – L and the rear trigger L – R. To cut out the Single Trigger push stud from right to left. The gun can be used as a Double Trigger whatever the position of the stud.” Case contains 2-pc rosewood and brass cleaning rod with mop, jag and brush in leather wallet, and an unmarked round oil bottle. PROVENANCE: Biographical info on Russell Aiken avid conservationist, big game hunter and associate editor of Field and Stream. His first wife Anne L. Crawford for whom these guns were made, was the mother of Martha (Sunny) Von Bulow. Notes on these guns. George Reeb Collection. CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, showing very limited field use. Bbls retain 95%+ orig blue with a few light marks and dings. Actions retain 85 – 90% orig case hardening color, silvering on beads and lightly on fences. “Quail” action possibly has a bit stronger color, especially on bottom. Top levers and trigger guards show slight silvering, more silvering at grips. Pins and selector buttons retain nearly all of their vibrant temper blue. Safety buttons are slightly silvered. Stocks retain nearly all of a very fine oil refinish over 2″ almost undetectable lengthening pieces, with a few light marks. Forends retain nearly all of their orig finish. Bores are excellent. Actions are tight. Bbls are on face. Mechanically crisp. Triggers function flawlessly. Case leather is very fine with a number of light rubs and scratches. Handles are good. Interior cloth is fine. Partitions have been moved slightly to accommodate longer stocks. Accessories are fine. A lovely pair of guns. 4-53718 (25,000-40,000) – Lot 2418 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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*EXCEPTIONALLY FINE BRACE OF E.J. CHURCHILL PREMIER XXV EASY OPENING SIDELOCK EJECTOR “REPEATING TRIGGER” GAME GUNS WITH CASE, MADE FOR ANNE LAURIE CRAWFORD.