2214

*KRIEGHOFF TYPE EUROPA MODEL 62 BY VIKTOR BRANDL WITH CASE.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:2,500.00 USD Estimated At:5,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD
*KRIEGHOFF TYPE EUROPA MODEL 62 BY VIKTOR BRANDL WITH CASE.
Please Note (3/1/13): An additional document accompanies this lot affirming Paul Tibbets ownership of this gun. Document is signed by Theodore Jerome Van Kerb also known as "Dutch". (Dutch was the navigator on Enola Gay). SN 62070. Cal. 12 ga. 28" Ported mono-bloc bbls with raised, matted, ventilated rib, are stamped with 1967 German proofs (from the Munich proof house). Krieghoff type O/U action features non-automatic safety and selective single trigger with selector in front of trigger. Coin finished action is engraved with large, open, shaded, scrolled acanthus outlining vignettes of birds and canines; fox and partridges on left, setter and another partridge (?) on right. Bottom of action is marked "Europa Model 62" on broad, scroll flanked riband, and "MADE BY VIKTOR BRANDL" "Munich, Germany" in front of trigger guard bow. Lightly figured European walnut capped pistol grip buttstock measures 14-3/8" over thin basket-weave Pachmayr White Line pad. There is borderless point pattern checkering at grip, side panels also checkered. One piece beavertail type matching forend has Deeley type release. Bore diameter: top -.735, bottom -.734. Bore restrictions: top -.006 (Skeet), bottom -.005 (Skeet). Wall thickness: top-.042, bottom -.039. Drop at heel: 2-1/2", drop at comb: 1-1/2". Weight: 8 lbs. 3 oz. LOP: 14-3/8". NASCO aluminum All American case is marked "Paul W. Tibbets" on rectangular plaque, is lined in green faux fur, and contains titanium small gauge tube set with tubes for 20, 28, and 410 in top compartment. Case also contains tube installation tools, some vaseline, and bbl weight, which is in Speer bullet case. Paul W. Tibbets was one of the more famous flyers to emerge from WW II. He was the command pilot of the B-29 Enola Gay named after his mother. He was the first airman and the first aircraft to drop an atomic bomb, Little Boy, on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. He was born in Feb. 1915 and died Nov. 2007 having retired from the Air Force as a Brigadier General. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Corp as a flying cadet in 1937 and was commissioned and received his wings in 1938. During WWII he rose in rank to become the commander of the 509th Composite Group flying B-17's over Europe. Col. Tibbets had the reputation as "the best flyer in the Army Air Force" which was confirmed by Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower for whom he served as personal pilot at various times during the war. In 1943 he returned to the U.S. and was test pilot for the new B-29 and in April 1944 was again assigned to the 509 Composite Group. In Sept. 1944 he was assigned to command the project at Wendover Army Airfield, Utah in connection with the Manhattan Project developing atomic weapons. On August 9, 1945, Col. Tibbets officially named his B-29 the Enola Gay and on Aug. 6 departed Tinian Island (in the Marianas Islands) at the controls of his B-29 at 0245 hours bound for Hiroshima, Japan with the atomic bomb, code named Little Boy. The bomb was dropped at 0815 local time. During numerous interviews in a variety of venues, Gen. Tibbets always stated that he had no regrets and slept well. CONDITION: Fine. Bbl retains 90% of what appears to be orig blue with silvering at muzzles, and along sides of rib. Action retains most of its coin finish. Matte blued parts show considerable silvering from normal handling and use. Stocks retain most of an oil finish. Pad is not original. Checkering is slightly worn on buttstock, possibly re-cut, considerably worn on forend. Bores are excellent. Action is tight. Stock is slightly loose on action. Case is fine. Interior is fine. Tube set is excellent. 4-47691 MGM152