Catalog Auction info Auction #124 - Two-Day Sale, November 23 & 24 (#124) 11/23/2019 9:00 AM EST Closed Starts Ending 11/23/2019 9:00 AM EST Auction Info Lot #75 Exceptional Pair of Pre-war Merkel 127E Sidelock Double Ejectorguns Belonging to W Alton Jones Click image to enlarge PreviousNext Lot closed - unsold Estimate: $20,000 - $30,000 Description Description: serial nos. 23365 and 24258, 12 ga., 27 1/2'' Bohler Antinit steel barrels, the former choked modified and full, the latter choked about improved cylinder and modified, all showing bright excellent bores. The barrels retain and 97-98% original blue, the 23,000 set showing perhaps a bit more fading and drifting, closer to 95-97%, clearly used more often than their more open-choked counterparts. They feature lovely hand matted ribs and ivory beads and are retailer marked ''Robert Hübner/Darmstadt'', each with a small band of geometric engraving at the breeches. The barrels were Nitro proofed in 1936 and 1937 respectively and show 2 3/4'' chambers and have gold washed ejectors. The frames and hand-detachable lockplates are nothing short of stunning. They feature over all exquisite tight flowing scroll with thin borders of banknote borderline filigree along the bottom sharp edge of each and around the hinge pin covers. Coverage is full on all surfaces and the arms were finished in an exquisite French gray with the background very finely matted providing a lovely contrast. While ostensibly a matched pair, and outward appearances immediately suggest they are identical, close scrutiny of the two reveal subtle nuances in the patterns which are very endearing and interesting to discover. The earlier gun has small floral sprays intermingled with the engraving, along the bolster flare beneath the fences, along the edges of the water table. On the latter gun this is tiny fine scroll, with that arm exhibiting a very small letter ''K'' hidden in the geometric engraving surrounding the hinge pin screws, perhaps signifying the engraver of that arm. Additionally when viewing the bellies of the frames, the earlier gun has a small flower petal-like motif engraved on the bottom plate screw, the later arm has exquisite scroll camouflaging the fact that there are screws present at all. Both of course feature the ''Suhler Waffenwerk/Gebruder Merkel Suhl'' legends in ribands and the triggerguards exhibit nearly all of their original blue, the only loss being the grasping areas of the long tangs. Two triggers are neatly, very finely checkered, two on the latter gun are very finely grooved, both fronts being articulated, all retaining nearly all of their original gold plate. The cocking hooks, firing pins and their bushings, and top and bottom bolts are all gold washed. Externally the dial-style cocking indicators and a number of the pins still show strong gold wash, while internally each set of locks retain nearly all their original lovely gold wash, the latter pair of locks showing some very light flaking and very slight loss. Each of the arms are stocked in a beautiful grade of Circassian walnut, straight-grip English style, with a slightly hog back Germanic-style comb. Each set of stocks and splinter style forends rate excellent with perhaps a few very widely scattered very light handling marks one would expect from a field-used arm. The wrists are very finely checkered, the pattern extending rearward almost to the gold oval monogram plates, the splinter forearms near fully checkered over all. The length of pull to the Mershon Olde English buttpad is 14 3/8'' and 14 1/4'' respectively, with drops of 1 9/16'' and 2 3/4'' and 1 5/8'' and 2 7/8'', also respectively. Both toe lines show a small circular hole which was plugged, it would appear at the time of manufacture, as do the underside of each barrel, each showing small filler screws, clearly the guns originally fitted for European style sling swivels, as are favored over there, not something an American would desire on his shotgun. Both guns lockup as tightly as the day they left Suhl, each feature automatic safeties, ejectors, double triggers, the front articulated, hand detachable locks with dial-style cocking indicators and third top fastener. For those not in-the-know, W. Alton Jones was a poor Missouri farm boy who grew to become one of the highest-paid CEOs in the United States at the head of energy giant Cities Service Company (later Citgo). He was a philanthropist who used his wealth for the good of others and his country, and an important donor to the Republican Party, also a close friend and hunting companion of Dwight D. Eisenhower. His very important contributions during the war effort included an aviation fuel plant, over 3000 miles of oil pipelines and the construction of a secret high explosives plant in Arkansas, in 1944 founding his ''W Alton Jones Foundation'' ''....to promote the well-being and general good of mankind through out the world''. Very sadly, Jones met an untimely demise during the very tragic crash of American Airlines Flight 1 outside of New York City in March of 1962, ironically while on his way to join Eisenhower on a fishing trip. The arms come in their original leather-covered luggage case with brass corners and lock, embossed in black on the lid ''W. Alton Jones''. The case itself rates very good with light drying and scuffing to the leather covering, also small black stains over its surfaces as though some contaminate affected the areas very long ago. The interior of the case is green baize lined and rates very fine with a very good ''Gebruder Merkel'' label on the interior of the lid. We find no wall thickness below .025'' with most well over .030''; the guns weigh just about 6 1/2 lbs each. Interestingly, Shooting Sportsman featured these arms prominently in one of their calendars and they won the German Gun Collectors Association ''Best German Gun'' at the gold medal concourse d'elegance of fine guns at the 2001 Vintage Cup. An exceptional pair of pre-war Merkel double ejector sidelocks with perfect engraving and stunning condition overall, ideal as investments or for the discerning sportsman's battery; their connection to this important philanthropist and businessman who rose to success out of virtually nothing, all the more significant. (3G9374-1, 2) {C&R} Categories: Terms and conditions GENERAL STATEMENTS • All bidders must register and obtain a bidding number in order to participate in the auction; in so-doing they agree to abide by the terms and conditions of the sale. Absentee/Telephone bidders must register by filling out and signing an absentee bid sheet, online bidders must register per the online terms of registration. • The highest bidder acknowledged by the auctioneer shall become the owner upon the fall of the hammer. The auctioneer has sole discretion in the case of a dispute among bidders. • 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 consignors interests. • Reserves: A very few lots will be offered with reserve. In cases where items are reserved, a bid of the low estimate will always exceed the reserve. Reserves will be bid by the auctioneer as an opening bid so any bid taken from the floor or the phone is a live bid above the reserve amount. • Bidding on any item in the sale indicates the bidder’s full acceptance and understanding of all terms and conditions of sale. PAYMENT POLICY • Invoices are payable upon receipt. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will accept cash, check, MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express as payment for items purchased. Online payment will now be available for buyers directly through the online invoicing process. • Credit card purchases are limited to $50,000.00 per customer, per auction. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. reserves the right to demand cash or hold merchandise until funds are collected in full. There will be a $35.00 charge for all returned checks. • A 17.5% Buyer’s Premium will be added to all purchases regardless of price with a 2.5% discount when paying with check or cash . This premium is to be paid as part of the purchase price. • Customers without prior credit approval who intend on making purchases in excess of $10,000 must provide credit information such as a bank letter of credit prior to bidding. GUIDELINES FOR FIREARM PURCHASES • All Federal, State and Local firearms laws will be observed. FFL holders may take possession of any firearm on day of sale when they present a signed copy of their Federal Firearms License. New Hampshire residents over the age of 21 may take possession of any firearm on day of sale providing the proper paperwork is filled out and the transfer has been approved either through the NH State Police or the FBI NICS System. While most NICS and State approvals are immediate, approvals could take up to 3 days. Most non-residents may take possession of long guns on day of sale after completing the proper forms and successfully completing a NICS check; modern handguns will need to be 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. CLASS III WEAPONS • Amoskeag Auction Co., Inc. is a licensed Class III S.O.T. and handles transfers of Machineguns, Suppressors, A.O.W.’s and short barreled rifles and shotguns in-house. Class III invoices are expected to be paid upon receipt, no transfer paperwork will be executed until the invoice is paid. Know that class III transfers take a good deal of time for Federal approval and we are at their mercy. Firearms are marked as follows: ANTIQUE - no paperwork required 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. Firearms that are not marked with one of these notations are considered to be “MODERN” and all proper paperwork is required unless you are an FFL Dealer. 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NOTE: Phone bids MUST be arranged by 5:00pm ON THURSDAY prior to the sale. • All absentee/telephone bidder invoices are mailed within a few days of the sale, on-line 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. WARNING Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. does not warranty the safety of any article it sells. Therefore, we recommend 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.
