20 ga. by 7x65R, 25 1/2” Bohler Antinit barrels, each choked a tight full, showing bright excellent bores in all, the left tube showing an old tiny ding which was neatly raised. The barrel retains about 85% later restored blue showing remnants of a few light pits beneath. The loss is due to some even fading, primarily in the area ahead of the forend. There are light sprays of oakleaf and acorn engraving at the sideclipped breeches and portions of barrel lug which protrude through the bottom of the frame. The scalloped frame is stepped with nice bolsters beneath the sideclipped fences and has nice 3/4 sideplates affixed at the rear left and right. The metal surfaces are a dull pewter gray patina and are over all oakleaf and acorn engraved with very nice quality games scenes left and right. The right shows wild European boar, the left with three black bears, a bellowing stag on the belly of the frame. “Joh. Sigott/Ferlach” is on both the belly of the frame and around the circumference of the top lever screw hole and the quality of the engraving is excellent. The European walnut capped pistolgrip buttstock is classic style with a flared left side shadowline cheekpiece and rates very fine to near excellent showing an old light cleaning with a bit of reapplied varnish in the area of the butt. There is crisp checkering with mullered borders in the grip area and a scalloped hard rubber pistolgrip cap set off by a white line spacer. The butt shows very nice grain figure and exhibits a 13 1/2” length of pull to the checkered horn buttplate, also with white line spacer, showing just a bit of insect damage. The splinter forend rates very fine as well showing a bit more wear to the checkering with added finish in the uncheckered area. The arm features dual under bites and a Greener crossbolt and seems to be on face with the barrels exhibiting a very light amount of lateral play. Features extractors, pin-style cocking indicators, double single set triggers, left-sided Greener safety and top-actuated barrel selector and a very nice horn triggerguard which is remarkably uncracked and unchipped after all the years. Arm is sighted with a simple silver bead front sight and u-notch rear which flips up automatically when the rifle barrel is selected. The blade shows a couple old cracks and the aperture has been opened quite a bit but would be an easy replacement for a ‘smith of any talent. The rib wears a pair of dual claw bases with newer rings which support a Nickel 1.5-6 telescopic sight with crosshair reticle and bright excellent optics, the scope rating excellent to very nearly as-new. There are small screws affixed at the muzzles on the left and right lower ribs, the solder at the muzzle appears to be tight and these may just be bolsters that were affixed by the manufacturer; occasionally the left side (rear) set feature does not work however the trigger otherwise operates normally as-designed. The underside of the breech area of the rifle barrel is hand stamped “7 MM 65” by a later hand than made the rifle, likely a competent gunsmith should verify the caliber prior to any use of the arm. Overall a very nice drilling from a quality Austrian maker with some very nice engraving. (39100-1342) {C&R} [Richard “Stretch” Kennedy Collection] (1200/1800)
firearm