*WATSON BROS. BOX LOCK EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE WITH CASE.

Revised: 9/11/2009

Additional Information: This Double Rifle was owned by John H. Batten of Racine Wisconsin and is in the original case. It was one of his first Double Rifles and is featured in his book, one of six he wrote, called “The Formidable Game.” It is shown on several pages including pages with a Tiger, and a Gaur. It is also shown in figure 30 on plate IX in the back of the book. The gun was re-stocked by John with Holland & Holland’s help in 1971. The original stock is also included with a note in John’s hand stating what it is. John Batten was the only “colonial” to sit on Holland & Holland’s Board of Directors.

*WATSON BROS. BOX LOCK EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE WITH CASE. SN 13631. Cal. .475 No. 2. 24″ Dovetailed bbls are engraved “Watson Bro’s.”, “Old Bond Street. London.” on tops. Nicely matted quarter rib with dolls head extension has one standing, four folding express sight with platinum lines, marked for 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 yards. Gold bead front is longitudinally dovetailed into raised base. Sunken portion of top rib is matted in same pattern as quarter rib. Bbl flats have Birmingham nitro proofs for .475 Express, 85 grains of cordite, and 480 grain bullet. Bottoms of bbls have provisional proofs, SN, and are stamped “Gussstahl Krupp Essen”. Bottom rib has sling eye mounted and is engraved “.475. No. 2. 3-1/2″”. Box lock action has non automatic safety with “Safe” inlaid in gold, double triggers, and bushed strikers. Action is very nicely engraved with flowing shaded open scroll that has strapwork highlights. Floorplate has matching open scroll with “Watson Bros” in relief on riband. Top of receiver is matted. Newly made English walnut buttstock measures 14-1/2″ over Silvers type pad, and features sling eye, right hand shadow line cheek piece, trap grip cap, and 20 LPI borderless checkering. Anson release splinter forend is original, and has point pattern 18 LPI checkering with line border. Accompanying rifle is original buttstock measuring approx 14″ over red pad with spacer, featuring original sling eye, composition grip cap, and 18 LPI checkering. Drop at heel: 2-3/8″, drop at comb: 1-9/16″. Weight: 11 lbs. 4.5 oz, LOP 14-1/2″. Green canvas case with leather trim has brass corners, lined in maroon cloth, with Watson Bros paper label, contains sling with QD swivels, snap caps, oil bottle, and 2 boxes of Kynoch cartridges. PROVENANCE: Murray (Chip) Beckford Coll. CONDITION: Fine. Bbls retain 30% original blue with areas of pinprick pitting toward breech. Action has traces of case color, but is mostly silver to gray. Floor plate, trigger guard and top lever retain 30-35% original blue. Screw in grip is replacement. Replacement buttstock has most of its oil finish. Forend has most of its finish with nicks and a couple of heavy compressions. Original buttstock has 11 notches in comb with about the same amount of finish as forend. Bores are very fine, strong rifling with light frosting in grooves. Action is slightly loose, bbls are slightly off face. Breech face shows gas cutting. Left ejector not working. Case is fine. Canvas slightly discolored and scuffed. Interior partitions are tight, with a few areas cut from contact with sight. Accessories are fine. With a bit of work this would make a great rifle for an African safari. 4-37572 MGM41 (12,500-17,500)

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
	1250	$14,375.00	Revised: 9/11/2009 Additional Information: This Double Rifle was owned by John H. Batten of Racine Wisconsin and is in the original case. It was one of his first Double Rifles and is featured in his book, one of six he wrote, called “The Formidable Game.” It is shown on several pages including pages with a Tiger, and a Gaur. It is also shown in figure 30 on plate IX in the back of the book. The gun was re-stocked by John with Holland & Holland’s help in 1971. The original stock is also included with a note in John’s hand stating what it is. John Batten was the only “colonial” to sit on Holland & Holland’s Board of Directors. WATSON BROS. BOX LOCK EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE WITH CASE. SN 13631. Cal. .475 No. 2. 24″ Dovetailed bbls are engraved “Watson Bro’s.”, “Old Bond Street. London.” on tops. Nicely matted quarter rib with dolls head extension has one standing, four folding express sight with platinum lines, marked for 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 yards. Gold bead front is longitudinally dovetailed into raised base. Sunken portion of top rib is matted in same pattern as quarter rib. Bbl flats have Birmingham nitro proofs for .475 Express, 85 grains of cordite, and 480 grain bullet. Bottoms of bbls have provisional proofs, SN, and are stamped “Gussstahl Krupp Essen”. Bottom rib has sling eye mounted and is engraved “.475. No. 2. 3-1/2″”. Box lock action has non automatic safety with “Safe” inlaid in gold, double triggers, and bushed strikers. Action is very nicely engraved with flowing shaded open scroll that has strapwork highlights. Floorplate has matching open scroll with “Watson Bros” in relief on riband. Top of receiver is matted. Newly made English walnut buttstock measures 14-1/2″ over Silvers type pad, and features sling eye, right hand shadow line cheek piece, trap grip cap, and 20 LPI borderless checkering. Anson release splinter forend is original, and has point pattern 18 LPI checkering with line border. Accompanying rifle is original buttstock measuring approx 14″ over red pad with spacer, featuring original sling eye, composition grip cap, and 18 LPI checkering. Drop at heel: 2-3/8″, drop at comb: 1-9/16″. Weight: 11 lbs. 4.5 oz, LOP 14-1/2″. Green canvas case with leather trim has brass corners, lined in maroon cloth, with Watson Bros paper label, contains sling with QD swivels, snap caps, oil bottle, and 2 boxes of Kynoch cartridges. PROVENANCE: Murray (Chip) Beckford Coll. CONDITION: Fine. Bbls retain 30% original blue with areas of pinprick pitting toward breech. Action has traces of case color, but is mostly silver to gray. Floor plate, trigger guard and top lever retain 30-35% original blue. Screw in grip is replacement. Replacement buttstock has most of its oil finish. Forend has most of its finish with nicks and a couple of heavy compressions. Original buttstock has 11 notches in comb with about the same amount of finish as forend. Bores are very fine, strong rifling with light frosting in grooves. Action is slightly loose, bbls are slightly off face. Breech face shows gas cutting. Left ejector not working. Case is fine. Canvas slightly discolored and scuffed. Interior partitions are tight, with a few areas cut from contact with sight. Accessories are fine. With a bit of work this would make a great rifle for an African safari. 4-37572 MGM41 (12,500-17,500) 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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