2117 ELMER KEITH'S WESTLEY RICHARDS HAND DETACHABLE

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This item SOLD at 2023 May 13 @ 11:51UTC-4 : AST/EDT
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 5,000.00 USD
Estimated at 10,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD

BOXLOCK RIFLE SHOTGUN COMBO. Cal. 16 Ga., 2 1/2"/ 303 British. S# T2247. (CA 1905). This very unusual combination gun was part of the Elmer Keith collection sold by James D. Julia in March of 2015. Elmer kept this combo because he once said he wanted to take grouse and mule deer with the same gun in the same day. It has 26" shoe lump barrels fitted with quarter rib holding, one standing, five folding leaf express rear sight, marked for 50 through 500 yds., with extra long range flip up ladder sight graduated out to 1,800 yds. Stippled front ramp holds small silver bead front sight with slip on protector. Top of right barrel is engraved "Westley Richards & Co. London." Barrel flats are stamped with Birmingham nitro proofs for 16 Ga. 1 oz. shot & .303 rifle cartridge. A sling eye is soldered to bottom rib. Case hardened hand detachable Anson Deeley patent boxlock action (patent use #1178) has removable early style floorplate and also features automatic safety, Wesley Richards sliding third fastener which engages doll head rib extension, bushed rifle striker and double triggers. Action is engraved with about 30% coverage well cut sprays of scroll. Maker's name is on each side. Blued top lever, floorplate and trigger guard also have sprays of scroll engraving. S# is on trigger guard tang. Well marbled and lightly figured European walnut, round knob pistol grip buttstock measures 14 3/4" over steel buttplate with trap (trap holds spare front sight). Point pattern checkering with mullered borders is at grip. Toeline is fitted with matching sling eye and a silver oval engraved "Elmer" "Keith". Matching splinter Deeley ejector forend with inlet horn tip has Deeley release. MEASUREMENTS: BBL: Bore Diameter: R .669". Restriction: R .3035" (full). Wall thickness: .032". STOCK: DAH: approx. 2 3/16". DAC: approx. 1 1/2". CAST: approx. 1/4" off. LOP: 14 3/4". WEIGHT: 8 lb. 0 oz. CONDITION: very fine, barrels retaining over 90% original blue with some light marks and scratches. Acton retains 60-70% case hardening color, quite bright where protected, silvering and graying on fences and around bottom from normal had wear. Blued parts retain about 80% of their original bright blue, trigger guard tang shows some flaking, buttplate retains about 70% of its original charcoal blue. Stocks retain over 90% oil finish with a fair amount of marks and dings, checkering is lightly worn. Shotgun bore is bright and shiny without any noted problems, Metford rifled bore is also very fine, shiny throughout, perhaps with a hint of frosting toward muzzle. Action is tight, ejectors are slightly out of time. There is a repaired 1" crack on left side buttstock below side panel running upward from lower tang and then back toward checkering. It does not flex. A very rare interesting Wesley Richards once the property of a renowned gunwriter and personality. (22-5854/MGM). CURIO. $10,000-20,000.