2147 A VERY INTERESTING BOSS O/U COPY BY LUIGI FRANCHI

Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 4,000.00 USD
Estimated at 8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
FINISHED IN BEST QUALITY WITH MAKER'S CASE. Cal. 12 Ga., 2 3/4". S# 1007. Bbls. 28" fitted w/ slightly raised solid rib w/ brass front bead & hand engraved "COSTRUITO PER G. TONOLINI BRESCIA" on left & "S.A. LUIGI FRANCHI- BRESCIA" on right. Bbl. flat is polished w/ S#, proof marks, "1940" (DOM) & bottom tube engraved "ACCIAIO POLDI ANTICORRO". Bbl. lumps engraved in floral scroll. Boss style forend checkered in point pattern w/ full coverage engraved blued irons & has Anson type push button release. Boss copy full sidelock action is beautifully engraved in full coverage robust rose & minute scroll pattern on nearly all surfaces. Bottom of action engraved in banner "S.A. L. FRANCHI BRESCIA" & sm. scroll w/ extremely finely detailed flowers bursting off trigger plate. Frame flats w/ S# on left & number "6" on right & proof marks on interior w/ sm. import mark on left. Beaded bbl. bolsters & top of action fully scroll engraved. Blued top lever & top tang are nicely scroll & floral engraved w/ "SIGURA" in front of blued & scroll engraved safety. Gun made w/ checkered dbl. triggers (front trigger articulated), automatic ejectors, non auto safety, blued trigger guard w/ near full coverage well executed floral & scroll w/ long tang to pistol grip. Lightly figured European walnut buttstock w/ carved tear drops behind locks is checkered in point pattern through the wrist has checkered horn grip cap, sm. silver oval near toe & terminates w/ a fully checkered butt. DAC: 1 1/2". DAH: 2 3/16". LOP: 14 5/8". Top: Bore diameter: .728. Restriction: .050 (extra full). Minimum wall thickness: .024. Bottom: Bore diameter: .729. Restriction: .034 (Imp Mod). Minimum wall thickness: .024. Weight: 7 lbs 7 oz. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: gun is housed in what appears to be its original maker's case w/ 2 Franchi pamphlets w/ keys enclosed. Case is dark brown full leather w/ red velvet interior & has maker's trade label on top & brass fixtures. CONDITION: excellent & showing very limited use after complete refinish. Bbls. retain more than 98% of their blue. Coin finished action is cleaned to excellent. Engraving is quite crisp & beautiful throughout. Forend is excellent. Checkering is crisp w/ only very minor light handling marks. Buttstock is excellent & retains nearly all of its finish. There is a tiny (smaller than the white if your finger nail) grain separation on top of left lock toward frame. Bores are brilliant & shiny. Mechanics are crisp. Gun is tight & sound. Bbls. are somewhat off face. Case is good w/ rub marks & impressions throughout. Leather beginning to dry & some minor scuffing & soiling on interior. At first glance this gun looks just like an O/U Boss which most consider to be the finest stylized design in all of fine shotgun manufacturing. This gun is extremely well engraved, well made & well balanced & represents an exceptional value for its quality. (22-1181/JL). CURIO. $8,000-12,000.