^Lot 2265 INCREDIBLE 5 LB 12 BORE DAVID KIRKWOOD

FEATHERWEIGHT SIDELOCK GAME GUN. Cal. 12 Ga. 2-5/8". S# 1296. Kirkwood advertised his featherweight guns to weigh as little as 5-1/4 lbs. in 12 gauge. It appears this gun was a special effort and tips the scales at 5lb. 1/2 oz. This was Berrien's first Kirkwood and sparked his interest in this superb American maker and his products. This gun has 26" fine three stripe damascus barrels engraved "D. Kirkwood. Boston" on narrow swamped game rib. Rib has usual Kirkwood square shouldered dolls head extension. Barrel flats are unmarked. Bottoms of barrels are stamped with British provisional proofs. Very slim and well filed back spring sidelock action features automatic safety which must be pulled backward to fire as if you were cocking a hammer gun. Action also features Kirkwood's usual top bite as well as Purdey type under bolts. Action is engraved with 50% coverage nicely cut small scroll. Each lockplate is engraved "D. Kirkwood". Steel trigger guard engraved with scroll on bow has S# on tang. Round knob Prince of Wales grip buttstock made of very nicely fiddle figured and lightly streaked European walnut measures 13-3/4" over very thin checkered horn buttplate. Buttstock has been hollowed to save weight and improve balance. It features David's typical long fluted comb, well cut multi-point pattern checkering and nicely shaped drop points. Matching splinter forend with inlet ebony tip has spring tension release. MEASUREMENTS: BBLS: Bore Diameter: L .731. R .730. Restriction: L .012 (light mod). R .007 (IC). Wall thickness: L .020. R .020 (both along bottoms of barrels otherwise mostly .025). STOCK: DAH: 2-13/16". DAC: 1-7/16"+. CAST: about 1/2" off. LOP: 13-3/4". WEIGHT: 5 lb. 1/2 oz. CONDITION: fine as partially refinished. Barrels retaining nearly all of a good quality re-brown with good definition to pattern. Action and lockplates retain about 50% original case hardening color that shows some darkening. Stocks lightly refinished with a few scattered marks. Checkering lightly worn. Bores are bright and shiny without noted problems except for minor dent removal in right barrel about 5" from muzzle. Action is tight. Mechanically good. A wonderful lightweight handmade gun. PROVENANCE: From the Private Collection of Berrien Moore III. (01-28451/MGM). ANTIQUE. $1,500-2,500.