HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT W. RICHARDS PERCUSSION 12 BORE DOUBLE RIFLE BELONGING TO WILLIAM COTTON OSWELL, WITH REFERENCES.

HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT W. RICHARDS PERCUSSION 12 BORE DOUBLE RIFLE BELONGING TO WILLIAM COTTON OSWELL, WITH REFERENCES. SN NSN. Cal. 12 Bore. This well made heavy rifle with 8 groove rifling, has 30″ Damascus bbls with “W. Richards London” engraved on high flat top rib with 3 folding leaf express sight marked for 100, 200, and 300 yards. Steel barleycorn front sight is dovetailed through rib. Top of rib is also stamped “1051/ RG/ ND.” Bottoms of bbls have Birmingham proofs for 12 bore. Steel ramrod with brass tip and worm under rear cap is held in place by 2 plain pipes and lug for tip. Rear pipe has eye for sling. Breech plugs have vented platinum blowouts. Breech iron has scroll engraving. Bar action locks have well cut open scroll, as do serpentine hammers with stylized dolphin heads. Trigger plate has stylized pineapple finial, as does thimble. Trigger guard has scroll engraving, and is of pistol grip type with “11” on end of grip (bore size). Plain but dense European walnut stock measures 14-1/4″ over steel butt plate, and features round patchbox on right side, engraved with an elephant, and coarse checkering with mullered borders. Left side of buttstock is finely carved with map of South Africa extending from Capetown to headwaters of Zambezi River, and Chobe swamp, with points of interest noted, such as Kalahari Desert, Limpopo, Vaal, and Orange Rivers, Kurman and Kolobeng platted and with their coordinates given. At top of grip is gold rectangle with monogram “WCO” (William Cotton Oswell). Stock fastens to bbl with side nail through oval escutcheons. Drop at heel: 2-1/4″, drop at comb: 1-5/8″. Weight: 12 lbs. 9.9 oz. Included with rifle are three books: Life of William Cotton Oswell Vol. I by W. Edward Oswell (his eldest son). New York: Doubleday, Page, & Co. 1900; King’s of the Rod, Rifle and Gun Vol. II. by Thormandy. New York: E.P Dutton, 1901. with a chapter on William Cotton Oswell; and paperback reprint of William Cotton Oswell, Hunter and Explorer which is Volume 2 of first mentioned book. PROVENANCE: Books. CONDITION: Fair. Bbls retain remnants of black turning brown. Bores are strong, but dark. Locks are still crisp. Right lock is short seared, and feels as if it has a third bent filed in. Stock has seen lots of use and abuse with many cracks and repairs around lock plates with other wear and tear apparent as testimony to its many years of service in the African bush. A rare opportunity to own a piece of history. Books show some wear. 4-38689 MGM52 (10,000-20,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2009

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
	1240	$0.00	HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT W. RICHARDS PERCUSSION 12 BORE DOUBLE RIFLE BELONGING TO WILLIAM COTTON OSWELL, WITH REFERENCES. SN NSN. Cal. 12 Bore. This well made heavy rifle with 8 groove rifling, has 30″ Damascus bbls with “W. Richards London” engraved on high flat top rib with 3 folding leaf express sight marked for 100, 200, and 300 yards. Steel barleycorn front sight is dovetailed through rib. Top of rib is also stamped “1051/ RG/ ND.” Bottoms of bbls have Birmingham proofs for 12 bore. Steel ramrod with brass tip and worm under rear cap is held in place by 2 plain pipes and lug for tip. Rear pipe has eye for sling. Breech plugs have vented platinum blowouts. Breech iron has scroll engraving. Bar action locks have well cut open scroll, as do serpentine hammers with stylized dolphin heads. Trigger plate has stylized pineapple finial, as does thimble. Trigger guard has scroll engraving, and is of pistol grip type with “11” on end of grip (bore size). Plain but dense European walnut stock measures 14-1/4″ over steel butt plate, and features round patchbox on right side, engraved with an elephant, and coarse checkering with mullered borders. Left side of buttstock is finely carved with map of South Africa extending from Capetown to headwaters of Zambezi River, and Chobe swamp, with points of interest noted, such as Kalahari Desert, Limpopo, Vaal, and Orange Rivers, Kurman and Kolobeng platted and with their coordinates given. At top of grip is gold rectangle with monogram “WCO” (William Cotton Oswell). Stock fastens to bbl with side nail through oval escutcheons. Drop at heel: 2-1/4″, drop at comb: 1-5/8″. Weight: 12 lbs. 9.9 oz. Included with rifle are three books: Life of William Cotton Oswell Vol. I by W. Edward Oswell (his eldest son). New York: Doubleday, Page, & Co. 1900; King’s of the Rod, Rifle and Gun Vol. II. by Thormandy. New York: E.P Dutton, 1901. with a chapter on William Cotton Oswell; and paperback reprint of William Cotton Oswell, Hunter and Explorer which is Volume 2 of first mentioned book. PROVENANCE: Books. CONDITION: Fair. Bbls retain remnants of black turning brown. Bores are strong, but dark. Locks are still crisp. Right lock is short seared, and feels as if it has a third bent filed in. Stock has seen lots of use and abuse with many cracks and repairs around lock plates with other wear and tear apparent as testimony to its many years of service in the African bush. A rare opportunity to own a piece of history. Books show some wear. 4-38689 MGM52 (10,000-20,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2009 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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