*UNIQUE FUNKEN ENGRAVED FN A – 5 MADE FOR PARIS EXHIBITION (THE MENAGERIE GUN).

*UNIQUE FUNKEN ENGRAVED FN A – 5 MADE FOR PARIS EXHIBITION (THE MENAGERIE GUN). SN NSN. Cal. 12 ga. 2-3/4″ Chamber. 27-1/2″ Barrel. As this gun closely resembles styling and quality of workmanship of other guns made for “L’Exposition d’Art Moderne de Paris” 1937 (notably two O/Us described in Schwing’s THE BROWNING SUPERPOSED), it can be surmised this unusual unnumbered gun was also exhibited. FN Belgian address is engraved on left side of blued bbl, with matted ventilated rib. Early A-5 action with safety in front of trigger guard bow, is coin finished. Rear hump, top of action, and 4″ of rear of bbl are “stripe matted” as advertised and used on lightweight Browning O/Us without ribs. Sides of action are engraved with a veritable zoo of fancifully interpreted birds, reptiles, and mammals, including horses, stag, kangaroo, peacock, rabbit, owl, snake, crocodile, monkey, vulture, and sable antelope. This delightful panoply is the work of renowned FN engraver Felix Funken whose signature appears under magazine cut-off on left side of action. All action parts are specially polished and exhibit the highest quality of workmanship. Very fine smoky lightly figured classic French walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-3/4″ over unusual rib carved wood butt. Forend is of matching wood. Buttstock and forend are carved in striking “art deco” flowing flutes in place of checkering. This unusual presentation is featured on both of the known exhibition guns engraved and designed by Funken, and carved by Richard Gerard. One of these exhibition guns is displayed at the Liege Arms Museum. Whereabouts of the other is unknown. PROVENANCE: Photocopies from Schwings THE BROWNING SUPERPOSED. CONDITION: Excellent. Bbl retains 90 – 95% orig blue, silvered on high edges, and with a few light scratches and marks. Action retains nearly all of its bright polish finish, with some small areas of light, cleaned oxidation, mostly on tangs and trigger guard bow. Top matting has browned slightly. Stocks retain most of their orig French polish finish with numerous marks and scratches, some fairly deep. Finish has worn through on top edges of ribs from handling and use. Forend has some repaired cracks where it butts against action. Incipient crack is behind bottom tang of buttstock, and a small chip missing. Bore is excellent. 4-38733 MGM133 (3,000-5,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011

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
	1324	$8,337.50	UNIQUE FUNKEN ENGRAVED FN A – 5 MADE FOR PARIS EXHIBITION (THE MENAGERIE GUN). SN NSN. Cal. 12 ga. 2-3/4″ Chamber. 27-1/2″ Barrel. As this gun closely resembles styling and quality of workmanship of other guns made for “L’Exposition d’Art Moderne de Paris” 1937 (notably two O/Us described in Schwing’s THE BROWNING SUPERPOSED), it can be surmised this unusual unnumbered gun was also exhibited. FN Belgian address is engraved on left side of blued bbl, with matted ventilated rib. Early A-5 action with safety in front of trigger guard bow, is coin finished. Rear hump, top of action, and 4″ of rear of bbl are “stripe matted” as advertised and used on lightweight Browning O/Us without ribs. Sides of action are engraved with a veritable zoo of fancifully interpreted birds, reptiles, and mammals, including horses, stag, kangaroo, peacock, rabbit, owl, snake, crocodile, monkey, vulture, and sable antelope. This delightful panoply is the work of renowned FN engraver Felix Funken whose signature appears under magazine cut-off on left side of action. All action parts are specially polished and exhibit the highest quality of workmanship. Very fine smoky lightly figured classic French walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-3/4″ over unusual rib carved wood butt. Forend is of matching wood. Buttstock and forend are carved in striking “art deco” flowing flutes in place of checkering. This unusual presentation is featured on both of the known exhibition guns engraved and designed by Funken, and carved by Richard Gerard. One of these exhibition guns is displayed at the Liege Arms Museum. Whereabouts of the other is unknown. PROVENANCE: Photocopies from Schwings THE BROWNING SUPERPOSED. CONDITION: Excellent. Bbl retains 90 – 95% orig blue, silvered on high edges, and with a few light scratches and marks. Action retains nearly all of its bright polish finish, with some small areas of light, cleaned oxidation, mostly on tangs and trigger guard bow. Top matting has browned slightly. Stocks retain most of their orig French polish finish with numerous marks and scratches, some fairly deep. Finish has worn through on top edges of ribs from handling and use. Forend has some repaired cracks where it butts against action. Incipient crack is behind bottom tang of buttstock, and a small chip missing. Bore is excellent. 4-38733 MGM133 (3,000-5,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011 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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