Premier Fine Art & Antiques Auction
August 29, 2023
Below is just a small portion of the massive selection of high quality art & antiques to be featured in our upcoming August 29th 2023 auction! This auction will span multiple genres of collectibles, including Fine Paintings & Art, Jewelry & Silver, Orientalia, Rare Glass & Lamps, Early & Victorian Furniture, Decoys, Carvings, Coin-Op, & MORE!
HIGH GRADE HIGH CONDITION COLT MODEL 1883 HAMMERLESS SHOTGUN
01-21083
Cal. 10 Ga
S# 1731
The flagship item offered by Colt in the 1880s; the factory spared no expense in the production of this finely made shotgun. Quality was on a par with anything made in the world at that time. The 30″ Damascus bbls. are of very high quality with even & distinct pattern. The concave game rib is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A.”. Rib has a doll’s head extension. Bbl. flats are stamped with serial number & extra heavy splinter has various stamps, including “10” (probably ga.) & “GG” (Bbl. maker’s intials?). “G” is also stamped on the loop. Action of modified Anson & Deeley type has serial number on watertable & features automatic safety & double triggers.
An innovative feature of this gun is the springloaded hingepin and its attached cocking dogs which rotate with the opening of the bbls. Removal of the cocking dogs would allow easy replacement of the hingepin as possibly needed for future tightening. Action is very nicely filed & finished & engraving is of the first order with about 50% coverage exceptionally well cut small shaded scroll within line borders. The scroll surrounds very finely detailed scenes of dogs & game on sides with a pointing setter on left peering over a rock which hides two woodcock. Right side portrays a pointing pointer with two grouse behind a tuft of grass. A Colt factory letter states that this was $10 worth of extra engraving. Floorplate with more scroll is also engraved “PATENTED Aug 22 & Sep 19 1882”. Top lever & trigger guard are blued. Both are engraved with more scroll & trigger guard has scene of a feeding snipe on bow. Serial number is on tang. Round knob buttstock of made from a very attractive piece of intricately marbled & nicely stump figured European walnut, measures 14 1/16″ over Colt hard rubber buttplate embossed with checkering & rampant colt in oval. Side panels are checkered & losenge shaped drop points are present. Point pattern checkering is at grip & a vacant silver oval is on toeline. Matching splinter forend with inlet ebony tip has Colt’s adaptation of a Deeley latch.
MEASUREMENTS:
BBLS: Bore Diameter: R .790″, L .790″. Restriction: R .027″ (MOD), L .027″ (MOD). Min. Wall Thickness: R .032″, L .036″.
STOCK: DAH: 3 1/16″. DAC: 1 13/16″. LOP: 14 1/16″. CAST: neutral.
WEIGHT: 9 lb. 8 oz.
STATUS: ANTIQUE
