*E. J. CHURCHILL BEST UNDER LEVER HAMMER PIGEON GUN WITH CASE.

Revised: 9/8/2010

CORRECTION: Please note: this is not a Modern firearm as noted by the asterisk in the title.

*E. J. CHURCHILL BEST UNDER LEVER HAMMER PIGEON GUN WITH CASE. SN 712. (ca. 1897) Cal. 12 Ga. 3″ Chambers. 30″ Chopper lump barrels with broad flat raised matted rib, are engraved “E. J. Churchill Gun & Rifle Manufacturer” and “S Agar St. Strand, London. W. C.” on tops. Bbl flats show London proofs for 12 ga. and “choke”. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with SN. Jones under-lever action has finely filed fences. Bar action rebounding locks have low-set, rounded, serpentine hammers that lay below sight line when cocked. Action, Jones lever, locks, hammers, and trigger guard have nearly full coverage very finely cut, tight, shaded open scroll, the work of Jack Sumner who is known to have engraved all of Churchill’s early guns. Churchill’s monogram “E J C” is on bottom of action bar, and was only found on his best guns. “E. J. Churchill.” is in scrolled ribands on the front of each lockplate. SN is in scrolled riband on long trigger guard tang. Dark, nicely streaked, and slightly figured European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-5/8″ over checkered wood butt, and features drop points and 22 LPI point pattern checkering with mullered borders. Matching splinter forend has Anson release. Bore diameter: left -.729, right -.729. Bore restrictions: left -.029, right -.028. Wall thickness: left -.027, right -.029. Drop at heel: 2″, drop at comb: 1-1/4″. Weight: 7 lbs. 12 oz, LOP 14-5/8″. Older leather case with brass corners is newly lined with burgundy cloth, with black leather gold-embossed Churchill label. Bottom partitions have oak borders. Case contains 2-pc brass and rosewood cleaning rod, pair of Eurochasse snap caps, and empty rosewood striker bottle. CONDITION: Excellent, as partially refurbished. Bbls retain virtually all of a fine satin London quality re-black. Action retains most of its original case color, silvered at bottom. Lockplates and hammers retain 90% of their original color. Trigger guard has been re-blued, and retains nearly all of that blue. Engraving is excellent. Stocks retain nearly all of a very fine hand rubbed oil finish. Checkering is re-cut and is sharp. There is a repaired crack running from upper left of lockplate to tip of top tang, and is stable. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Locks are crisp. Bores are excellent but with some slight frosting toward breech end of right bbl, and some minor striations. Case leather is darkening with numerous marks and rubs. Interior cloth is excellent, as are label, and accessories. An exceptionally well made gun, equally at home in the ring, on the clays course, or for trap doubles. 4-40925 MGM150 (9,500-13,500)

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
	1400	$14,950.00	Revised: 9/8/2010 CORRECTION: Please note: this is not a Modern firearm as noted by the asterisk in the title. E. J. CHURCHILL BEST UNDER LEVER HAMMER PIGEON GUN WITH CASE. SN 712. (ca. 1897) Cal. 12 Ga. 3″ Chambers. 30″ Chopper lump barrels with broad flat raised matted rib, are engraved “E. J. Churchill Gun & Rifle Manufacturer” and “S Agar St. Strand, London. W. C.” on tops. Bbl flats show London proofs for 12 ga. and “choke”. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with SN. Jones under-lever action has finely filed fences. Bar action rebounding locks have low-set, rounded, serpentine hammers that lay below sight line when cocked. Action, Jones lever, locks, hammers, and trigger guard have nearly full coverage very finely cut, tight, shaded open scroll, the work of Jack Sumner who is known to have engraved all of Churchill’s early guns. Churchill’s monogram “E J C” is on bottom of action bar, and was only found on his best guns. “E. J. Churchill.” is in scrolled ribands on the front of each lockplate. SN is in scrolled riband on long trigger guard tang. Dark, nicely streaked, and slightly figured European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-5/8″ over checkered wood butt, and features drop points and 22 LPI point pattern checkering with mullered borders. Matching splinter forend has Anson release. Bore diameter: left -.729, right -.729. Bore restrictions: left -.029, right -.028. Wall thickness: left -.027, right -.029. Drop at heel: 2″, drop at comb: 1-1/4″. Weight: 7 lbs. 12 oz, LOP 14-5/8″. Older leather case with brass corners is newly lined with burgundy cloth, with black leather gold-embossed Churchill label. Bottom partitions have oak borders. Case contains 2-pc brass and rosewood cleaning rod, pair of Eurochasse snap caps, and empty rosewood striker bottle. CONDITION: Excellent, as partially refurbished. Bbls retain virtually all of a fine satin London quality re-black. Action retains most of its original case color, silvered at bottom. Lockplates and hammers retain 90% of their original color. Trigger guard has been re-blued, and retains nearly all of that blue. Engraving is excellent. Stocks retain nearly all of a very fine hand rubbed oil finish. Checkering is re-cut and is sharp. There is a repaired crack running from upper left of lockplate to tip of top tang, and is stable. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Locks are crisp. Bores are excellent but with some slight frosting toward breech end of right bbl, and some minor striations. Case leather is darkening with numerous marks and rubs. Interior cloth is excellent, as are label, and accessories. An exceptionally well made gun, equally at home in the ring, on the clays course, or for trap doubles. 4-40925 MGM150 (9,500-13,500) 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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