Product Details
W. J. JEFFERY & CO.
AN EXCEPTIONAL AND UNIQUE MAISSIN-ENGRAVED .577 (3IN.) NITRO EXPRESS SIDELOCK EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE, serial no. 41577,
24in. nitro chopperlump barrels deeply carved with foliate bands at the breech end, raised sight rib carved in high relief with flowing floral designs on a stippled background and with central cartouche engraved '.577 NITRO EXPRESS', open sights and two folding leaf sights with matt finish, gold-inlaid sighting elements and marked for 50, 100 and 150 yards, ramp-mounted bead fore-sight with flip-up moonsight, massive treble-grip action with short side-bolsters, removable striker discs, automatic safety, articulated front trigger, the action, lockplates and furniture deeply carved in high relief with flowing floral and acanthus motifs with fine ropework bordering, the makers name carved on the bolsters, the lockplates with carved vignettes of buffalo and lion, the underside with a tableau of a lone hunter facing down a charging bull elephant in a savannah setting, the whole on a finely stippled ground, the triggerplate signed 'S. MAISSIN', retaining virtually full original colour-hardening and finish, 14 5/8in. very highly-figured pistolgrip stock with cheekpiece, carved steel pistolgrip-cap with trap engraved '.577', carved and colour-hardened sling eyes, 1/2in. rubber recoil pad, the fore-end decorated en suite and with grip-catch fore-end release lever, weight 14lb., in its elephant hide bound oak case with silver plated mounts, canvas outer and full complement of gilt and ivory-handled accessories.
Provenance: The makers have kindly supplied the following letter which will accompany the rifle.
"This sidelock ejector rifle was built by the ex-Rigby team at J. Roberts & Son. J. Roberts & Son had the manufacturing rights for W.J. Jeffery during the years 2000 until 2010.
"The rifle has all English components including the barrels. The action is built on the doll's head screw-grip Scott pattern. Manufacturing started in 2004 and completed in 2008.
"It is the finest known W.J. Jeffery sidelock DB rifle and the only sidelock known at this time, in calibre .577 3" Nitro.
The rifle was engraved by Sebastien Maissin and cased in an elephant hide oak and leather case with ivory and gilt tools."
The first seeds that grew into this rifle were sown by the vendor when he first saw the calibre in action as a teenager in Africa. The calibre itself needed no introduction; it became the round of choice of professional hunters for thick-skinned and dangerous game; namely elephant, rhino and buffalo, soon after it was developed late in the 19th Century. That said, it was often used as an emergency round (due to its remarkable shock and stopping power) although James Sutherland used it his as his 'everyday' working elephant rifle.
What the vendor wanted to do was have the calibre built on a best quality London sidelock action. This was no mean feat, especially when considering that C.N.C. machining techniques would be of little value as the rifle is unique and the makers have no plans to build another. That meant an enormous amount of man-hours and can explain why it took so long to bring the idea to fruition.
Several double rifles had been built on an Anson and Deeley action, but none (as far as is known) had been built as a sidelock.
The rifle is accompanied by two paper targets that prove the accuracy of its iron sights.
Estimate £60,000-80,000
S1