*E. J. CHURCHILL PREMIERE OVER-UNDER GAME GUN WITH CASE.

*E. J. CHURCHILL PREMIERE OVER-UNDER GAME GUN WITH CASE. SN 7052. (1952) Cal. 12 ga. 2-3/4″ Chambers. This unusual and well made offering by the Churchill firm, originated as an under and over built for the American market in the early 1920’s specially for trap shooting. Bob Churchill had no faith in the O/U and in his book HOW TO SHOOT he gave the guns one short paragraph under the heading of “Novelties” calling them a “throwback” and that “these guns enjoy a sporadic vogue as novelties, but it is certain that they present no great feature of convenience or utility, such as may enable them to supplant the side by side gun.” He went on to produce a limited number of O/U’s. Generally referred to as “Woodward pattern”, and it is rumored that Churchill bought over-under guns in the white from Woodward. (Don Masters in HOUSE OF CHURCHILL relates that he has not been able to find evidence of this, and the guns were probably made “in house”.) The guns are very similar in design and lock work, and were possibly actioned by the same outworkers, most notably those of the Hill family, noted actioners to the trade. This particular gun has 27″ demi-bloc bbls fitted with unusual rounded solid top rib, with central matted stripe flanked by simple leaf engraving, mimicking the function and eye aligning tendency of his highly touted game rib. Top bbl is engraved “E. J. Churchill (Gunmakers) Ltd.” and “Orange St. Gunworks, Leicester Square. London.” on either side of rib. Triangles of scroll are on breech ends of bbls and ejector bosses. Left side of top bbl and bottom of bottom bbl are stamped with 1952 Birmingham nitro proofs for 2-3/4″ chambers. SN is engraved on bottom bbl. Nicely filed, case hardened, low profile (bbls hinging on trunnions in Woodward style), O/U, full sidelock action features automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold), gold inlaid tumbler end cocking indicators, and “loose” front trigger. Back action sidelocks have through pins. (Many Premieres are “pinless”) Action and lockplates are engraved with nearly full coverage medium shaded scroll. “E. J. Churchill.” is in scroll terminated riband on the front of each lockplate. “Premiere Model” is engraved on bottom of action. Blued, scroll engraved, double beaded trigger guard has SN engraved at grip. Very fine, nicely marbled and lightly fiddle figured Circassian walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-7/8″ over reddish-toned, leather covered pad, and features modified diamond hand, drop points, nicely cut borderless checkering of modified point and crenelated pattern with ribbons through rear portion. Toe line with gold oval engraved “G” has negative camber giving a streamlined rakish look. Matching one piece ejector forend has Anson type push button release. Bore diameter: top -.727, bottom -.727. Bore restrictions: top -.013, bottom -.019. Wall thickness: top -.031, bottom -.030. Drop at heel: 2″, drop at comb: 1-7/16″. Weight: 7 lbs. 8 oz, LOP 14-7/8″. Makers brown leather toe under case with stitched leather corners, has rectangular brass plaque screwed to lid. Interior is lined with burgundy cloth, has gold embossed dark green Churchill label, and contains 2-pc brass and ebony cleaning rod with mop and Turk’s head, and a box of Pendleton Royal cleaning patches. CONDITION: Very fine, as refinished. Bbls retain 95 – 98% fine quality re-black, with a few minor marks and light spots. Engraving is still sharp. Action retains traces of orig color hardening, augmented overall by heat. Top lever and trigger guard retain most of an old re-blue, engraving slightly softened. Stocks retain nearly all of a correct hand rubbed oil finish, checkering nicely freshened. Bores are excellent. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are perfectly timed. Case leather is slightly darkened with numerous marks, scuffs, and stains. Straps and handle are good. Interior cloth is good with some staining on lid, with soiling and marks from contact with action and bbls. Partitions have some repair. Label is very fine with one compression and a small point of loss of gold through “h” in “Churchill”. 4-46394 MGM128 (22,500-32,500)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2012

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
	2389	$0.00	E. J. CHURCHILL PREMIERE OVER-UNDER GAME GUN WITH CASE. SN 7052. (1952) Cal. 12 ga. 2-3/4″ Chambers. This unusual and well made offering by the Churchill firm, originated as an under and over built for the American market in the early 1920’s specially for trap shooting. Bob Churchill had no faith in the O/U and in his book HOW TO SHOOT he gave the guns one short paragraph under the heading of “Novelties” calling them a “throwback” and that “these guns enjoy a sporadic vogue as novelties, but it is certain that they present no great feature of convenience or utility, such as may enable them to supplant the side by side gun.” He went on to produce a limited number of O/U’s. Generally referred to as “Woodward pattern”, and it is rumored that Churchill bought over-under guns in the white from Woodward. (Don Masters in HOUSE OF CHURCHILL relates that he has not been able to find evidence of this, and the guns were probably made “in house”.) The guns are very similar in design and lock work, and were possibly actioned by the same outworkers, most notably those of the Hill family, noted actioners to the trade. This particular gun has 27″ demi-bloc bbls fitted with unusual rounded solid top rib, with central matted stripe flanked by simple leaf engraving, mimicking the function and eye aligning tendency of his highly touted game rib. Top bbl is engraved “E. J. Churchill (Gunmakers) Ltd.” and “Orange St. Gunworks, Leicester Square. London.” on either side of rib. Triangles of scroll are on breech ends of bbls and ejector bosses. Left side of top bbl and bottom of bottom bbl are stamped with 1952 Birmingham nitro proofs for 2-3/4″ chambers. SN is engraved on bottom bbl. Nicely filed, case hardened, low profile (bbls hinging on trunnions in Woodward style), O/U, full sidelock action features automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold), gold inlaid tumbler end cocking indicators, and “loose” front trigger. Back action sidelocks have through pins. (Many Premieres are “pinless”) Action and lockplates are engraved with nearly full coverage medium shaded scroll. “E. J. Churchill.” is in scroll terminated riband on the front of each lockplate. “Premiere Model” is engraved on bottom of action. Blued, scroll engraved, double beaded trigger guard has SN engraved at grip. Very fine, nicely marbled and lightly fiddle figured Circassian walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-7/8″ over reddish-toned, leather covered pad, and features modified diamond hand, drop points, nicely cut borderless checkering of modified point and crenelated pattern with ribbons through rear portion. Toe line with gold oval engraved “G” has negative camber giving a streamlined rakish look. Matching one piece ejector forend has Anson type push button release. Bore diameter: top -.727, bottom -.727. Bore restrictions: top -.013, bottom -.019. Wall thickness: top -.031, bottom -.030. Drop at heel: 2″, drop at comb: 1-7/16″. Weight: 7 lbs. 8 oz, LOP 14-7/8″. Makers brown leather toe under case with stitched leather corners, has rectangular brass plaque screwed to lid. Interior is lined with burgundy cloth, has gold embossed dark green Churchill label, and contains 2-pc brass and ebony cleaning rod with mop and Turk’s head, and a box of Pendleton Royal cleaning patches. CONDITION: Very fine, as refinished. Bbls retain 95 – 98% fine quality re-black, with a few minor marks and light spots. Engraving is still sharp. Action retains traces of orig color hardening, augmented overall by heat. Top lever and trigger guard retain most of an old re-blue, engraving slightly softened. Stocks retain nearly all of a correct hand rubbed oil finish, checkering nicely freshened. Bores are excellent. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are perfectly timed. Case leather is slightly darkened with numerous marks, scuffs, and stains. Straps and handle are good. Interior cloth is good with some staining on lid, with soiling and marks from contact with action and bbls. Partitions have some repair. Label is very fine with one compression and a small point of loss of gold through “h” in “Churchill”. 4-46394 MGM128 (22,500-32,500) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2012 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.

.red{fill:#B50938;} .white{fill:#FFFFFF;} .blue{fill:#005596;}