Product Details
STEPHEN GRANT & SONS
A PAIR OF KELL-ENGRAVED 12-BORE SIDELOCK EJECTORS, serial no. 17382 / 3,
28in. nitro chopperlump barrels, the ribs gold-inlaid '1' and '2', the tubes engraved 'STEPHEN GRANT & SONS. 7. BURY STREET. ST. JAMES'S. LONDON.', 2 1/2in. chambers, bored approx. 1/4 and 3/4 choke (both), engraved fluted fences, removable striker discs, toplevers gold-inlaid '1' and '2', automatic safeties with gold-inlaid 'SAFE' details, best fine border and acanthus scroll engraving, retaining some original colour-hardening and finish, 14 5/8in. figured stocks including buttplates, escutcheons marked 'HR', weight 6lb. 6oz. (No.1) 6lb. 4oz. (No.2), in their brass-cornered oak and leather double guncase with canvas outer, both case and outer marked 'HR'
Provenance: The makers have kindly confirmed that this pair of guns was completed in 1939 for the Duke of Bedford
Hastings William Sackville Russell, 12th Duke of Bedford (1888 - 1953) gained the rank of Lieutenant in the 10th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, but never fought in the First World War owing to ill health. His subsequent advocacy of pacifism during the 1930s, and his attempt to mediate a truce in the Second World War by visiting the German delegation in Dublin, led to his name being placed on a list of persons to be arrested in the event of a German invasion.
He was also an ornithologist, specialising in parrots and budgerigars, to whom he would feed chocolates. His other pets included a spider to whom he would allegedly regularly feed roast beef and Yorkshire pudding.
In his son John's memoir, A Silver-Plated Spoon he is described as "The loneliest man I ever knew, incapable of giving or receiving love, utterly self-centred and opinionated. He loved birds, animals, peace, monetary reform, the park and religion." In conjunction with his father, Hastings Russell managed to tie up the family fortunes in a way that made it extremely difficult for his son and heir to access the property.
Other Notes: Harry Kell (1881-1958), was revolutionary in his designs and is widely regarded as one of the best and most influential engravers in British gunmaking history. Amongst his many achievements, he is credited with engraving the miniature guns for H.M. The Queen's dolls house and also the one presented to King George V on the occasion of his Silver Jubilee
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Estimate £8,000-12,000
S2