EXCEPTIONALLY FINE BRACE OF GASTINNE – RENETTE HOWDAH RIFLE AND PARADOX.

EXCEPTIONALLY FINE BRACE OF GASTINNE – RENETTE HOWDAH RIFLE AND PARADOX. SN 5034/ 5857. Cal. Rifle: 12 Bore; Paradox: 16 Bore. This unusual set of very high quality Belgian made firearms appears to have been made for someone hunting in India, and being accompanied most probably by his wife (as toe of stock of paradox has been relieved, as is normally done to fit a woman). The 12 Bore rifle was made for someone with a fairly large frame. Stocks of both pieces have been cut away at the comb so that they could fit in some sort of a rest while being transported, or while hunting from a howdah. The cut-outs are arranged so that if carried muzzles forward the 12 bore rifle would be on the right, and the 16 bore paradox would be on the left. There are some minor marks toward muzzles on bbls that indicate that there was also some other device to hold them in place. 12 Bore rifle has 26″ dovetailed blued Damascus barrels with 2-3/4″ chambers and 8-groove Enfield rifling, with groove diameter of .720. Raised 5/8″ wide flat full length matted rib with square shouldered doll’s head extension is engraved “Gastinne – Renette A’ Paris” in long unmatted lozenge. Wide U-notch rear sight is dovetailed through rib and has one standing and one folding leaf. Large bead front sight is also dovetailed through rib. Both sights have a lock screw to keep them in place after adjustment. Bbl flats show Belgian black powder proofs. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with SN 5034, other proofs, and a makers mark (a crowned LR, most probably Lambert Rouma). Sling loop is screwed to bottom rib. Rounded Jones underlever action is nicely filed and finished. Proofs, SN, and makers mark are all on water table. Peninsula rebounding back action locks have short rounded hammers. Action, locks and hammers have about 80% coverage of lightly cut scroll. Short tang trigger guard and bottom lever are blued and have matching scroll, and SN is on guard tang. Nicely marbled and figured European walnut pistol grip buttstock measures 14-1/4″ over remnants of original Silvers pad. Stock features shadow line right hand cheekpiece, engraved steel grip cap, 28 LPI point pattern checkering with double line border, with sling loop and silver oval on toe line. Oval is engraved “T. D. M. C”. Hemispherical mounting cut-out is at center of comb on left side of stock. Matching splinter forend fastens with forward lever. The 16 Bore Paradox has 28-3/4″ dovetailed steel barrels with 2-1/2″ chambers, has rifled chokes with 7-conventional lands equally as wide as the grooves; groove diameter is approximately .655 with bore diameter at rifling of approximately .637. Bore diameter of smooth portion of bbl is approximately .668. Rifled portion is approximately 1-3/4″ long. Bbls have raised flat matted full length rib with square shouldered doll’s head extension, and are engraved “F ni PAR GASTINNE – RENETTE A PARIS”. Rear sight is a single U-notch which folds flat, front sight a standard German silver bead. Bbl flats have Belgian black powder proofs. Bottoms of bbls have SN 5857, choke information, same crowned “LR” makers mark, and are also stamped “Ch. B. Raye'”. Sling loop is screwed to bottom rib. Case hardened Jones underlever action has locks and hammers essentially the same as those of the rifle except scaled down. Engraving is different, consisting of more detailed open scroll with rose bouquet highlights. Nicely streaked and figured European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 12-7/8″ over original Silvers pad, with 22 LPI flat top checkering with line border. Sling loop and silver circle are on toe line. Circle is engraved with a scrolled “C” monogram. 2-1/2″ Hemispherical cut-out is on right side of comb. Matching splinter forend has an Anson release. 12 Bore Rifle: Wall thickness at muzzles: left -.120, right -.120. Drop at heel: 2-1/2″, drop at comb: 1-1/2″. Weight: 11 lbs. 2.6 oz, LOP 14-1/4″. 16 Bore Paradox: Bore diameter: left -.668, right -.669. Bore restrictions: left -.032, right -.034. Wall thickness: left -.040, right -.026. Drop at heel: 2-5/16″, drop at comb: 1-9/16″. Weight: 6 lbs. 7 oz, LOP 12-7/8″. CONDITION: Exceptional. Bbls of both guns retain nearly all of their original black, silvering at muzzles, and marks on bbls toward muzzles from contact with whatever was holding them in their howdah cradle. Marks are larger and deeper on 12 bore bbls. Actions retain nearly all of their original vibrant case hardening color, silvering at backs of lockplates, and at top tangs. Trigger guards and bottom levers retain 90% plus of original bright blue, slightly silvered. Tang of 12 bore guard is browning somewhat. Stocks retain most of their original finish with numerous marks and small bumps from handling and use. There are some rather deep knocks in butt of 12 bore rifle. There is an area of compression in checkering on left grip of Paradox. Original pads are crystallized and rubber has deteriorated. Both guns show very little use, and are mechanically excellent. Bores are excellent, near new. 4-40556 MGM56 (20,000-30,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2010

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
	1295	$11,500.00	EXCEPTIONALLY FINE BRACE OF GASTINNE – RENETTE HOWDAH RIFLE AND PARADOX. SN 5034/ 5857. Cal. Rifle: 12 Bore; Paradox: 16 Bore. This unusual set of very high quality Belgian made firearms appears to have been made for someone hunting in India, and being accompanied most probably by his wife (as toe of stock of paradox has been relieved, as is normally done to fit a woman). The 12 Bore rifle was made for someone with a fairly large frame. Stocks of both pieces have been cut away at the comb so that they could fit in some sort of a rest while being transported, or while hunting from a howdah. The cut-outs are arranged so that if carried muzzles forward the 12 bore rifle would be on the right, and the 16 bore paradox would be on the left. There are some minor marks toward muzzles on bbls that indicate that there was also some other device to hold them in place. 12 Bore rifle has 26″ dovetailed blued Damascus barrels with 2-3/4″ chambers and 8-groove Enfield rifling, with groove diameter of .720. Raised 5/8″ wide flat full length matted rib with square shouldered doll’s head extension is engraved “Gastinne – Renette A’ Paris” in long unmatted lozenge. Wide U-notch rear sight is dovetailed through rib and has one standing and one folding leaf. Large bead front sight is also dovetailed through rib. Both sights have a lock screw to keep them in place after adjustment. Bbl flats show Belgian black powder proofs. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with SN 5034, other proofs, and a makers mark (a crowned LR, most probably Lambert Rouma). Sling loop is screwed to bottom rib. Rounded Jones underlever action is nicely filed and finished. Proofs, SN, and makers mark are all on water table. Peninsula rebounding back action locks have short rounded hammers. Action, locks and hammers have about 80% coverage of lightly cut scroll. Short tang trigger guard and bottom lever are blued and have matching scroll, and SN is on guard tang. Nicely marbled and figured European walnut pistol grip buttstock measures 14-1/4″ over remnants of original Silvers pad. Stock features shadow line right hand cheekpiece, engraved steel grip cap, 28 LPI point pattern checkering with double line border, with sling loop and silver oval on toe line. Oval is engraved “T. D. M. C”. Hemispherical mounting cut-out is at center of comb on left side of stock. Matching splinter forend fastens with forward lever. The 16 Bore Paradox has 28-3/4″ dovetailed steel barrels with 2-1/2″ chambers, has rifled chokes with 7-conventional lands equally as wide as the grooves; groove diameter is approximately .655 with bore diameter at rifling of approximately .637. Bore diameter of smooth portion of bbl is approximately .668. Rifled portion is approximately 1-3/4″ long. Bbls have raised flat matted full length rib with square shouldered doll’s head extension, and are engraved “F ni PAR GASTINNE – RENETTE A PARIS”. Rear sight is a single U-notch which folds flat, front sight a standard German silver bead. Bbl flats have Belgian black powder proofs. Bottoms of bbls have SN 5857, choke information, same crowned “LR” makers mark, and are also stamped “Ch. B. Raye'”. Sling loop is screwed to bottom rib. Case hardened Jones underlever action has locks and hammers essentially the same as those of the rifle except scaled down. Engraving is different, consisting of more detailed open scroll with rose bouquet highlights. Nicely streaked and figured European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 12-7/8″ over original Silvers pad, with 22 LPI flat top checkering with line border. Sling loop and silver circle are on toe line. Circle is engraved with a scrolled “C” monogram. 2-1/2″ Hemispherical cut-out is on right side of comb. Matching splinter forend has an Anson release. 12 Bore Rifle: Wall thickness at muzzles: left -.120, right -.120. Drop at heel: 2-1/2″, drop at comb: 1-1/2″. Weight: 11 lbs. 2.6 oz, LOP 14-1/4″. 16 Bore Paradox: Bore diameter: left -.668, right -.669. Bore restrictions: left -.032, right -.034. Wall thickness: left -.040, right -.026. Drop at heel: 2-5/16″, drop at comb: 1-9/16″. Weight: 6 lbs. 7 oz, LOP 12-7/8″. CONDITION: Exceptional. Bbls of both guns retain nearly all of their original black, silvering at muzzles, and marks on bbls toward muzzles from contact with whatever was holding them in their howdah cradle. Marks are larger and deeper on 12 bore bbls. Actions retain nearly all of their original vibrant case hardening color, silvering at backs of lockplates, and at top tangs. Trigger guards and bottom levers retain 90% plus of original bright blue, slightly silvered. Tang of 12 bore guard is browning somewhat. Stocks retain most of their original finish with numerous marks and small bumps from handling and use. There are some rather deep knocks in butt of 12 bore rifle. There is an area of compression in checkering on left grip of Paradox. Original pads are crystallized and rubber has deteriorated. Both guns show very little use, and are mechanically excellent. Bores are excellent, near new. 4-40556 MGM56 (20,000-30,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2010 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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