Catalog Auction info Auction #140 - Two-Day Sale, November 18th & 19th (#140) 11/18/2023 9:00 AM EST Closed Starts Ending 11/18/2023 9:00 AM EST Auction Info Lot #162 Exceptionally Rare Special Order Pre-War Merkel Model 303E Over Under Shotgun, Cased Two Barrel 10 Gauge Set, Ordered By New York Socialite William Gould Brokaw Click image to enlarge PreviousNextSimilar Items Lot closed - unsold Estimate: $30,000 - $50,000 Description Description: serial #21102, 10 ga (3”), 29” and 26” barrels with bright excellent bores, the 26” bores with some very thin fine scratches that are unobtrusive, both with finely matted ventilated ribs sloping down at the breech. The short barrels are choked modified and full and the long barrels improved modified and a light full. This is a stunning and very unusual Merkel, part of a series dubbed the “Mysterious Merkels” (per Hemingway’s Guns by Calabi, Helsley & Sanger) and fully bespoke with special order features. William Gould Brokaw would eventually accumulate five specially ordered Merkel over under shotguns, with known serial numbers 19342, 19865 and 19827. The remaining two shotgun’s serial numbers were unknown at the time of the Hemingway book publication but what was known was that they were both 10 gauge, one a two barrel set and the other a three barrel set. So this very gun is the two barrel set ordered by Brokaw. All five of these “mysterious Merkels” were consigned to Abercrombie & Fitch in 1944 by Brokaw’s son after his father’s passing and Hemingway would come to purchase two of them, these being the 12 gauge sidelocks numbered 19342 and 19865. Pages 52 and 53 of Hemingway’s Guns show copies of the original Merkel order cards for these two guns and they are absolutely covered with every excruciating detail specially ordered for the set, while page 57 shows Hemingway demonstrating one of these sidelocks to a serviceman visiting his office. The only major difference between the Hemingway 12 gauge and this 10 gauge is the sidelock versus boxlock action, all of the other distinctive special order features are clearly visible in the photo and order cards and correspond with the big 10 gauge. The finish is yet another unusual note as Brokaw’s original order cards specified dark case-hardening, though it is clearly some kind of special satin nickel finish, Patrick Hemingway speculating it may have, alternatively, been cadmium. On to Mr. William Gould Brokaw, he was born in 1868, son of a successful New York clothier and grandson of a railroad tycoon. He would inherit a fortune of around $4.5 million and lived the life of a “rich and fashionable clubman” entrenched in the expected high society circles of New York City with the likes of the Astors, Goulds, Vanderbilts and others. Some scholars also posit that Brokaw was the inspiration for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Great Gatsby. Brokaw’s interests were, expectedly, all-encompassing: yachts, race cars (particularly by Renault), guns (initially Churchills and then later Merkels), women and picturesque estates. Brokaw’s many affairs, divorces and alimony suits were always a sensational headline for the rags of the early 1900s. Brokaw passed away in 1941 aged 72 and, as described above, all five of his Merkels were consigned by his son in 1944 to Abercrombie & Fitch. Now on to the gun itself. The special and unusual features of the arm are almost endless: adjustable comb, circular compartment along the left side buttstock for adding weights, short forend panels, raised ventilated ribs and ventilated side ribs with ovoid joins between the barrels. These features all lend themselves to a fast-swinging and quick-pointing, but still very potent, gun. Condition is lovely throughout, the arm having seen just some light careful use. Both sets of barrels and the action retain about 98% of their original satin nickel finish that just shows a few light handling marks and errant freckles along the sides of the barrels, some subtle operational wear and small areas of slight discoloration hardly worth the mention. The action is embellished in full-coverage with wonderful fine foliate scrollwork and floral motifs all shaded with a lovely matted background. Both triggers show fine matting along their faces, the front articulated, and they and the ejectors are all gold-plated. The attractive cover plates for the stock weights on the left side butt and comb adjustment screw behind the triggerguard tang are also similarly embellished in full-coverage and retain all of their original bright blue. The bow of the triggerguard shows Brokaw’s “WGB” monogram in gold. There are some additional peculiarities, the explanation of which or timeline of events doubtless lost to time as the arm apparently passed through both France and England on its way to Brokaw (perhaps he picked it up on a trip through Europe?). The action and barrels are all neatly engraved with the maker’s markings in French “MERKEL FRERES” and “SUHL ALLEMAGNE”, and it shows London proof marks as well. The checkered walnut buttstock, forend and smooth short forend panels remain in excellent condition showing lovely crisp diamond point checkering throughout, subtle drop points and a handsome dark oiled finish matching the order cards of the other two guns which specify “very dark wood”. There is a very tiny drying crack forming at the upper tang that is unobtrusive and the buttstock shows a few very sparsely scattered light handling marks mostly in the checkering. The short forend panel screws show nice little horn escutcheons and the forend shows a gold inlaid coat of arms with Gould lion. The “patchbox” for the stock weights hold three of its original circular white enamel-painted lead discs each stamped with their weights in grams, two “83” and one “67”. All of the serialized parts are of course matching and both sets of barrels mount solidly on-face and are sighted with small ivory mid-beads and large ivory front beads. The arm features non-automatic safety and cocking indicator pins, and the action seems to function well mechanically with robust ejectors. Weight is 8 lbs. 1/2 oz. with the shorter barrels and 8 lbs. 3 1/2 oz. with the longer set. Constrictions are about .017 and .035 in the 26” barrels and .026 and .030 in the 29” barrels. Length-of-pull to the ventilated red rubber Jostam pad is 15”, and the comb is currently set flush with drops of about 1 7/8” and 2 3/4” (this corresponds with the drawings of the other two guns which were drops of 47mm and 68mm). The other stock dimensions appear to match the scribblings in the order cards for the other guns showing subtle cast-off. The included original case is from a French retailer with fittings very handsomely contrasting with and complementing the finish of the gun itself. It is of oak construction black leatherbound throughout with heavy nickel-plated reinforcements and lock hardware, robust stacked leather handle and dual buckled straps. The case rates near excellent showing some scattered light scuffs and handling marks to be expected, the black baize interior also with very mild wear. The case is also fitted with a handy lid stand and gold-embossed retailer label of Lien Chapu Callens of Paris. It appears there was another label or plate affixed to the center exterior of the lid that has been lost to the years and the interior holds a three-piece rosewood cleaning rod and a Merkel-marked oiler in excellent condition. This is a truly superb and extremely rare opportunity for the advanced collector to acquire a wonderfully special and important Merkel shotgun with a fascinating connection to New York’s lavish high society days and a man who epitomized that social milieu. (13K11108-3) {C&R} [Tom Devers Collection] (30,000/50,000) Categories: firearm Terms and conditions TERMS & CONDITIONS OF SALE The following paragraphs represent the terms under which all sales by Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. are conducted. Bidding on any item in the sale indicates the bidder’s full acceptance and understanding of all terms and conditions of sale. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. has taken great care in the preparation of the descriptions in this catalog. Although we believe everything in the descriptions to be true, we do not guarantee any part of any description. We recommend that the bidders view the items in person and form their own opinions as to condition, originality, origin, etc. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will consider all requests for refunds. If a customer is unhappy with a purchase, we will be happy to discuss a remedy with them. All requests for refunds must be made within 30 days of the sale date. Therefore, it is important that absentee bidders pay for their items in a timely fashion. All requests for refunds received after 30 days of the sale date will not be considered. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. reserves the right to reject any bid in order to protect our consignor’s interests. PAYMENT POLICY All invoices are payable upon receipt. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will accept cash, check, wire transfer, MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express as payment for items purchased. 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No items are to be removed from our facility until paid for in full by the purchaser. GUIDELINES FOR FIREARM DELIVERIES All Federal, State and Local firearms laws will be strictly adhered to. FFL holders may take possession of any firearm on day of sale (excluding Class III) when they present a signed copy of their Federal Firearms License. If an FFL dealer is sending an “agent” to pick up items, that person must be a bona fide, paid employee of the company with a W4 on file. Outside contractors cannot be used as pickup agents. A SIGNED LETTER FROM THE FFL STATING THIS FACT MUST BE PRESENTED AT TIME OF PICK UP. The FFL Dealer will in turn be notified that a transfer was made to you as their agent. New Hampshire residents over the age of 21 may take possession of any firearm, on day of sale, provided the proper paperwork is completed and the transfer has been approved either through the N.H. State Police or the FBI NICS System, whichever is appropriate based upon the type of firearm(s) purchased. Non-resident individuals from states without waiting periods may take possession of long guns on day of sale after completing the proper forms and successfully completing a NICS check. If you reside in a state with a waiting period, your items will need to be shipped to a dealer in your state. No modern handguns will be delivered to non-resident individuals. All modern handguns purchased by non-resident individuals will need to be delivered to or shipped to an FFL holder in the buyer’s home state. Buyer is responsible for any and all shipping charges and all items must be paid for on day of sale. Bidders should be familiar with their local and state laws as Amoskeag Auction Co., Inc. will not be responsible for any parties purchasing items which may not be possessed in, or shipped to their state of residence. Some states have restrictions on transfers to C&R License holders, study your state and local laws before bidding. If you are the winning bidder of an item that you find does not comply with your state’s laws, you will still be required to pay your invoice, Amoskeag Auction Co. will then re-offer the arm on your behalf. FIREARM CLASSIFICATION: ANTIQUE - no paperwork required MODERN - Post-1898 firearm which requires an FFL or 4473 with corresponding successful background check in order to be delivered. C&R - for firearms that fall under the ATF Curio & Relics licensing and if purchased by a person with a “C&R License” no paperwork is required. NOTE: Items that meet the age requirements but have been altered from their original configuration may NOT be delivered on a C&R License. ABSENTEE/TELEPHONE/ON-LINE BIDDING • As a service to our buyers, Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will accept absentee bids from bidders who cannot attend the sale. 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Properly registered Amoskeag On-line bidders may use this service free of additional charges as an alternative to telephone or absentee bidding, at their election. On-line bidders should be aware that the sale sometimes proceeds at a very rapid pace and should plan their bidding strategies accordingly. • Amoskeag Auction Co., Inc. will not be held responsible for errors or omissions of any type that may occur during these services. • All absentee bids must be received by 8:00pm on the day prior to the auction. If you plan to attend the sale but will not be staying until the end and want to leave a bid on an item that will be sold after you leave, we must have those bids in by 8:00am on the morning of the sale. No bids will be accepted after that time. Please do not call the gallery once the auction has started (after 9:00am) as we will not be able to accept bids or make changes to bids. • Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will also accept telephone bids on a limited basis. Telephone bidding is reserved for seriously interested bidders. In order to bid by telephone, the bidder must be willing to pay at least the low estimate of the item being bid on. NOTE: Phone bids MUST be arranged by 5:00pm ON THURSDAY prior to the sale. • All absentee/telephone bidder invoices are issued by end of business on the Tuesday following the sale; all invoices are due upon receipt. Invoices are to be paid either by cash or check, or by credit cards listed above. All items not paid for within 20 business days from sale date shall be considered abandoned as well as any deposit that was made on those items and Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. shall have sole discretion as to their disposal. SAFETY WARNING Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. does not warranty the safety of any article it sells. Therefore, it is imperative that, before you use any firearm, purchased here or anywhere else, you have it examined by a qualified gunsmith to determine whether or not it is safe to use. SHIPPING • Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will make every effort to ship items in a timely fashion. All items, with the exception of modern handguns, are shipped via UPS Ground unless other arrangements have been made. All merchandise is shipped Signature Required. • All modern handguns are shipped via UPS Next Day Air service. • Buyer is responsible for any and all shipping charges and for insurance on the items being shipped. Purchasers who self-insure can forego insurance charges if Amoskeag Auction is notified of your intent to self-insure. PICKING UP MERCHANDISE • Pickup will be by appointment only. • OUR OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED MONDAY AND TUESDAY FOLLOWING THE SALE. No merchandise will be delivered on those days. We will resume normal business hours on Wednesday. • Our office hours are Monday through Friday - 8:00 am to 4:00pm.
