1865

John A. Gough Engraved and Gold Inlaid Remington Model 8 Woodsmaster Semi-Automatic Rifle with Left

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:2,000.00 USD Estimated At:5,000.00 - 7,000.00 USD
John A. Gough Engraved and Gold Inlaid Remington Model 8 Woodsmaster Semi-Automatic Rifle with Left
Manufactured from 1936 to 1950, this example of a Model 81 rifle was manufactured in 1931 as recorded in Remington Archives. It is Premier Grade Number 6 Delicate and has been custom engraved and gold inlaid by John A. Gough. Joining Winchester in 1907, John A. Gough was the primary engraver for the early Model 1912 shotguns and worked alongside Herman Ulrich and William E. Stokes. This rifle has dovetail front and buckhorn rear sights with a Marble tang peep sight. An 11 inch section of the barrel has been scroll and punch dot engraved at the breech end with the engraving surrounding the two line Remington address and 1900-1911 patent dates on the top. The top of the barrel also has the name "J.L. Waterbury" in script gold inlaid towards the muzzle. The receiver features extensive coverage of scrollwork on a punch dot background with gold inlaid borders and 24k gold inlaid large game scenes in proud relief (a mountain lion on the left, a deer head on the top, two deer with a bear on the right), with the "SAFE" marking is inlaid in gold (right side). The lower right side of the receiver is marked "ENGRAVED FOR JOHN L. WATERBURY BY JOHN A. GOUGH ENGRAVER. STAMFORD, CONN." The lower tang, trigger guard and magazine are also scroll and punch dot engraved with a floral and punch dot engraving on the upper tang. Mounted with a nicely figured custom left handed high comb pistol grip stock and swelled forearm. The forearm has extensive checkering with a carved oak leaf and acorn motif near the frame and an inserted circular piece of ivory on the underside. The buttstock has checkering in the grip area, a checkered ivory grip cap, a raised cheekpiece on the right side, a Pachmayr White Line buttpad and sling swivel studs.
BBL: 22 inch round
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 35 Rem
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 69753
Condition: Excellent as custom embellished. The rifle retains 98% of the blue finish with some minor thinning and some scattered minor edge wear, with some minor spotting on the lower tang. Almost all the gold inlaid border remains with some of the wire border absent. There is a screw on the underside of the barrel in front of the forearm. The wood is very good with some minor handling marks and a hairline crack near the upper tang, with a few minor nicks in the overall crisp checkering.