Product Details
JAGDHAUS WILHELMSHOHE
A FINE PAIR OF DAMMENHAYN-ENGRAVED 20-BORE SIDEPLATED SINGLE-TRIGGER OVER AND UNDER EJECTORS, serial no. 007 / 1 and 007 / 2,
32in. nitro barrels with short sight ribs and ramped gold bead fore-sight, gold-inlaid with the makers name and finely carved at the breech ends with scrolling acanthus and a bird of paradise, and gold-inlaid '1' and '2' across the barrels and standing breeches, 2 3/4in. chambers, bored approx. 1/2 and 1/4 choke, optimised Fabrique Nationale B25 actions with rounded bars and slightly raised side bolsters, hold-open toplevers, manual safeties with gold-inlaid 'S' details, non-selective single triggers, rolled-edge triggerguards, 10in. slender fore-ends with Anson push rod release catches, the actions, decorative sideplates and furniture exquisitely engraved with fine scrolling acanthus leaf and arabesque motifs and basket weave bordering, with intervolving mythical creatures, the triggerplates signed 'Dammenhayn', the triggerguard tangs gold-inlaid with the serial numbers, retaining virtually full original colour-hardened finish, 14 3/4in. highly-figured Prince of Wales pistolgrip stocks with engraved and colour-hardened steel pistolgrip-caps, including 1/2in. leather covered recoil pads, weight 6lb. 8oz., in their canvas and leather double motor case with cloth protector
Provenance: The makers have kindly confirmed that the guns were developed to optimise aspects of both English and Belgian gunmaking. The majority of the work was undertaken by past employees of Hartmann & Weiss.
The vendor has kindly supplied the following insight into the development of these guns:
'As a true enthusiast from both an empirical perspective and also from a simple love of the sport, I wanted to discover if it was possible to build the gun equivalent of the Eierlegende Wollmilchsau (an egg-laying wool-milk sow - an imaginary perfect hybrid farm animal that would simultaneously provide eggs, cashmere wool, milk and meat).
To attempt to combine some of the finest aspects of different gunmaking traditions in terms of aesthetics, ease of use, strength, reliability and to be apposite to any occasion was ambitious and the project was finished against all logical and economic sense - you cannot limit your budget if you want the best.
The building process took three years, a lot of work (and re-working), -€41,000 and some of the last grey hairs I had left to complete, but it was worth it and I hope the guns will end up in the hands of someone who will truly appreciate them.'
Estimate £20,000-25,000
S2