Product Details
JAMES MACNAUGHTON
AN EXCEPTIONAL PAIR OF CUSACK-ENGRAVED 20-BORE 'EDINBURGH' ROUND-BODIED SKELETAL BAR-IN-WOOD TRIGGERPLATE-ACTION EJECTORS, serial no. 5107 / 8,
28in. nitro chopperlump barrels finely carved in high relief at the breech ends with bands of scrolling grapevines on a stippled background, ribs engraved 'JAMES MACNAUGHTON 21 FREDERICK STREET EDINBURGH' and gold-inlaid '1' and '2', 2 3/4in. chambers, bored approx. 3/4 and full choke (No.1) and 1/2 and 3/4 choke (No.2), MacNaughton later 1894 barrel-cocking design with removable striker discs, fences finely carved in high relief with grape and vine motifs on a stippled background, toplevers gold-inlaid '1' and '2', carved manual safeties with gold-inlaid 'SAFE' details, skeletal action bars and furniture finely embellished in low relief with further grape and vine engravings, the fore-ends decorated en suite, the action bars with the makers name, the triggerplate tangs gold-inlaid with the serial number in a scrolling banner, top tangs signed 'Peter Cusack' under the toplevers, 15in. highly-figured stocks with characteristic broad flat top chequering, weight 5lb. 12oz., in their brass-cornered lightweight leather case with canvas and leather outer, full complement of accessories and engraved silver trade label
Provenance: The thought process that brought this pair to fruition began in 1999 when the makers decided to build a small number of skeletal actioned shotguns in both 12 and 20-bore (these being the only 20-bores). Work commenced on the actions, but since the guns were looked upon as an exciting project rather than an order that had to be completed, they were only worked on when the workshop was not busy.
That meant that progress was slow and it was not until late 2007 that the makers decided to forge ahead and finish the guns for their premises in Frederick Street. All the work was carried out in Great Britain either by the workshop at Dunkeld or by carefully chosen outworkers both north and south of the border. The guns show London proof marks for 2010 and were completed the following year
Estimate £60,000-80,000
S2