serial #6074, 12 ga., (2 3/4), 30 1/8'' Sir Joseph Whitworth fluid steel barrels choked about improved cylinder and a light modified, with bright excellent bores. The barrels retain about 92% original plum blue, the loss is due to even overall fading, light muzzle wear and a bit of toning to pewter in the area above the forend. They are maker marked atop the left barrel ''Stephen Grant & Sons'', with the 57 St. James Street address, the right tube marked ''Built for George A Oulnby New York'', each with light rings of very nice engraving at the breeches and a small wedge of scroll on the rib. The frame and lockplates are a very pleasing smooth tarnished pewter patina featuring full coverage tight English scroll of the finest quality, with some borderline engraving, a bit of banknote filigree and nicely sculpted clefts flowing along the rear of the fences. ''Stephen Grant & Sons'' is along the bottom of each lockplate end the word ''Safe'' is inlaid in gold on the tang. The checkered round knob pistolgrip English walnut buttstock and splinter style forend rate very fine and are high-quality older replacements, with very nice checkering showing mullered borders, the butt with an un-engraved silver oval monogram plate along the toe. The length of pull to the checkered butt is 14 3/4'' with drops of 1 1/2'' and 2 11/16'', there are the very beginnings of two very tiny cracks at the rear of the left lockplate, they are small and unobtrusive. The arm locks up tightly with dual under bites and the barrels on face. Bore diameter of the right tube is .735'' with .730'' at the choke (.005'' constriction), left tube is .735'' bore diameter with .725'' at the choke (.010'' constriction), and the underside of the barrel has blackpowder proofs, each also marked ''12/C'' and ''choke''. There are a few spots in the right tube that are around .015''-.016'' but most are .023'' and above; the left tube with nothing below .018'', again most above .023''. The gun seems to function well mechanically, although the ejectors are a bit on the light side. The arm comes cased in what is likely its original leather luggage style carry case with heavy brass reinforced corners and a green baize interior. The interior has degraded somewhat from the years showing some slight mothing but has a very good Stephen Grant interior label, also with the 67 St. James Street address. The case shows a bit of scuffing, the handle somewhat tender but the original key to the lock is included; there are no luggage straps. There was no luck finding Mr. Oulnby, this being the spelling on the barrels, logic would seem to dictate it was mis-spelled by Grant, as a George Augustus Quinby was a Physician in New York (one can see how that could easily become mis-spelled, especially written in ink pen in some order book at Grant's) and the time frame would fit his life span, a New York physician would most certainly own a quality British shotgun. (3D9681-2) {ANTIQUE} (4000/6000)
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