^Lot 2360 ELEGANT J. WOODWARD HAMMERLESS SLE GAME GUN

WITH THUMB HOLE LEVER. Cal. 12 Ga. 2-1/2". S# 4643 (1892). The 28" chopper lump barrels are engraved "James Woodward & Sons, 64 St. James's Street, London. S.W. Made of Sir Joseph Whitworth's Fluid Pressed Steel" on narrow game rib. Rear of rib is gold inlaid "3". Barrel flats are stamped with London black powder proofs and "CHOKE". Bottoms of barrels are stamped "J.W. & S" with S#'s and "WHITWORTH STEEL". Case hardened side lock action fitted with 2nd pattern Purdey type thumb hole opening lever features automatic safety ("SAFE" in gold. Safety has classic "T" shape.), bug eye tumbler pivots with gold line tumbler end cocking indicators, bushed strikers and double triggers. Action is filed with classic Woodward arcaded fences and engraved with near full coverage nicely cut small shaded scroll. "J. WOODWARD & SONS" is in classic parchment scroll on each lockplate. "3" in gold is on top of action. Dramatically marbled and lightly figured European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-3/4" over black pig skin leather covered pad and features classic drop points, checkering and silver oval engraved with a monogram "HHIY"(?). Matching splinter T. Perkes ejector forend has Anson release and is engraved "3" on iron. MEASUREMENTS: BBLS: Bore Diameter: L .736. R .734. Restriction: L .015 (mod). R .005 (IC). Wall thickness: L .020 (3" area bottom quadrant left barrel 9-12" behind muzzle otherwise mostly .025) R .027. STOCK: DAH: 2". DAC: 1-1/2". CAST: about 5/8" off. LOP: 14-3/4". WEIGHT: 6 lb. 7 oz. CONDITION: very fine as mostly refinished. Barrels retaining nearly all of a "best" re-black; engraving thinned. Action retains 10-20% original case hardening color where protected and is mostly pewter gray. Lockplates retain about half of their case hardening color. Pin heads have been blued. Thumb lever and trigger guard are re-blued and retain nearly all of that blue. Stocks are professionally refinished with a few scattered marks. Details remain sharp; checkering re-cut. Bores are bright and shiny without noted problems. Action is tight. Mechanically fine with strong well timed ejectors. Just a lovely gun! PROVENANCE: From the Private Collection of Berrien Moore III. (01-28453/MGM). ANTIQUE. $4,000-8,000.