Fall 2023 Premier Firearms & Militaria Auction
November 3rd, 4th, 5th, & 6th, 2023
This auction will feature an outstanding collection of items spanning multiple categories including Modern, Military, Sporting, & Antique firearms & militaria! Below is just a small grouping of select highlights from the massive offering to be featured in this upcoming sale!
EXCEPTIONALLY FINE ORIGINAL CONDITION FREDERICK BEESELY SMALL BORE LIGHT WEIGHT SIDELOCK EJECTOR GAME GUN WITH ORIGINAL CASE
23-1635
Cal. 16 Ga. 2-1/2″ chambers
S# 1680 (1900)
Frederick Beesley developed many important improvements pertaining to firearms and is often referred to as “Inventor to the Trade”. His most well-known invention was the Purdey self opening action. He was a consummate craftsman and all of his guns are superbly made and finished. This lovely little gun has 27″ dovetailed steel barrels engraved “F. Beesley. 2 St. James’s Street. London. Pall Mall Corner.” on slightly swamped narrow game rib. Tops of barrels are engraved “Whitworth’s Fluid Pressed Steel.” There are small triangles of well cut scroll at breech ends with matching scroll at rear of rib. Barrel flats are stamped with London nitro proofs for 16 ga. and 1 oz. of shot. S#’s are on bottoms of barrels. Case hardened sidelock action features automatic safety (“SAFE” inlaid in gold) and double triggers. Action is engraved with near full coverage very nicely cut rose and scroll. Each lockplate is engraved “BEESLEY LONDON” “PATENT” in scroll flanked crown device. “BEESLEY” “PATENT” is on bottom of action. “PATENT” is on top lever. Fences are filed with relief carved fern leaves as usually seen on Beesley guns. S# is on blued trigger guard tang. Straight grip buttstock of finely marbled and lightly figured European walnut measures 14″ over checkered wood butt. Stock features classic drop points, flat top point pattern checkering on semi-diamond hand and a silver oval on toeline engraved “C.E.”. Matching splinter ejector forend has Anson release.
MEASUREMENTS: BBLS: Bore Diameter: L .672. Restriction: L .002 .013 recess (Mod). Bore Diameter R .670. Restriction: R .000 .004 recess (IC). Wall thickness: L .020 (along bottom – not in recess). R .027. STOCK: DAH: 2-5/8″. DAC: 1-5/8″. CAST: about 1/2″ off. LOP: 14″. WEIGHT: 5lb. 10oz.
UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: gun is housed in its original oak and leather case with brass corners. Case is lined in scarlet cloth and a large Beesley paper label is in lid inscribed with this guns S#, loading data and pellet counts: “Right 138” “Left 159″(R. IC & L. Mod). Later notations are on label: “Geo. Eastman” “Rochester N.Y.” along with “5lb. 8?oz.”. Case contains cloth covered dowels for bores, 2 piece Cocobolo and brass short handle cleaning rod, unmarked small oil bottle, Hawksley marked turn screws and snap caps, a broken case extractor marked “16”, pull through cleaning kit in black Morocco wallet, dusting brush and cleaning implements.
STATUS: CURIO
