Holt’s Auctioneers is selling a rare pair of 16-bore single-trigger over-and-under sidelock ejector shotguns made by London gunmaker J. Woodward & Sons in 1913, each with two sets of barrels.
Often known at the “gunmaker’s gunmaker”, James Woodward was in business in 1874 until acquired by James Purdey & Son in 1948. The company produced its first over-and-under in 1913, a design highly regarded for its grace and elegance. Nicholas Holt explains why these shotguns command such interest: “These guns are only one of five pairs of 16-bores ever built. They have only come up on the market because sadly the owner has died. I shot with him at Sandringham many times and they never let him down.”
The shotguns feature 26 7/8in. nitro chopperlump barrels, solid raised matt top-ribs gold-inlaid '1' and '2', bead fore-sights, side-ribs, over barrels engraved 'JAMES WOODWARD & SONS. 64, ST. JAMES'S STREET. LONDON. ENGLAND', 2 1/2in. chambers, bored approx. true cyl. in both (No.1) and 1/4 and 1/2 choke (No.2); Additional 30in. nitro chopperlump barrels, solid raised matt top-ribs gold-inlaid '0 1' and '2', bead fore-sights, side-ribs, over barrels engraved 'JAMES WOODWARD & SONS. 64, ST. JAMES'S STREET. LONDON. ENGLAND', 2 1/2in. chambers, bored approx. true cyl. in both (No.1), under wall at 18, and 3/4 choke in both (No.2); actions incorporating C.L. Woodward, W.P. Evershed and C. Hill patents 4986 and 9562 of 27th February 1913, hold-open toplevers gold-inlaid with English partridge and '1' and a snipe and '2', automatic safeties with gold-inlaid 'SAFE' details, carved fences, side bolsters, gold-inlaid cocking-indicators, Woodward patent non-selective single triggers, best fine bouquet and scroll engraving, the undersides engraved 'WOODWARD PATENT UNDER & OVER' and gold-inlaid with a further partridge (No.1) and a mallard (No.2), converted to Miller patent selective single triggers with replacement rolled-edge triggerguards, (original double triggers and triggerguards in the case), retaining very slight traces of original finish, 13 3/4in. well-figured replacement Prince of Wales semi-pistolgrip stocks with horn pistolgrip-caps, bolstered fore-ends with Deeley & Edge patent release catches gold-inlaid '1' and '2', weight 6lb. 6oz. (original barrels) and 6lb. 10oz. (additional barrels), in their re-lined brass-cornered oak and leather case (with original serial numbered striker pots), the extra barrels in their original leather barrel case.
Estimate: £20,000-30,000.
For sale in London on Thursday 15th September.
For press enquiries, contact Selena Barr at Tweed Media via selena@tweed-media.com.
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