2252 FANTASTIC FREDERIC SCALES EXHIBITION GRADE

Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 3,000.00 USD
Estimated at 6,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
SIDELOCK SHOTGUN. Cal. 12 ga. 2 1/2". S# H22269. Inside of forearm iron is marked "Made by / Frederic C. Scales / 38 years with J. Purdey & Sons / London / 1940". Hand detachable sidelock action features Holland locks, Southgate style ejectors & fluted fences. Selective ejectors. Double triggers, front trigger is articulated. Action has full coverage deeply executed Acanthus scroll that extends to long tang trigger guard, forend iron & breech end of bbls. Floorplate features a gold inlaid medieval "Green Man" motif. Sideplates have other gold inlaid mythological creatures resembling Griffon & Phoenix. Additional Green Man portrayals are found on forearm escutcheon & safety. Top lever has a gold inlaid pheasant. Trigger guard has a gold inlaid partridge. Forearm tip has the bust of a setter. Although unsigned, the engraving is believed to be the work of Harry Kell. Information w/ the gun suggests that the H prefix S# indicates the gun was build by G & S Holloway of Birmingham. Bbls. 30" chopper lump w/ 1 1/8 oz nitro proofs. Bore diameter: R .729 L .729. Choke constriction: R .018 L .030. Minimum wall thickness: R .032 L .026. Splinter forearm & steel capped pistol grip cheekpiece stock of exhibition quality walnut. Features include point pattern hand checkering, teardrop points & rectangular nameplate in toeline w/ gold initials "FCS". LOP: 15" over a Silvers pad. DAC: 1 9/16". DAH: 2 1/2". Stock has approx. 1/4" cast off. WEIGHT: 6 lbs, 13.6 oz. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: leather covered case w/ red velour fitted interior having Frederic Scales label on inside of lid. Case contains 2 piece cleaning rod, oil bottle & snap caps. Booklet assembled from Gun Craft pages 229-244 talks of the Scales gun & it's known history. Also includes several color photos of the gun along w/ gunsmiths & writers. CONDITION: bbls. retain 97% original black finish. Action has a pleasing gray finish. Wood has lightly worn finish showing scattered marks. Right side of forearm checkering has a small circular added wood repair. Action is on face w/ top lever sitting at center. Very good bores. (24-2168/DS). CURIO. $6,000-12,000.