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Magnificent Cased Engraved Gold Inlaid Special Order Royal Grand American Exhibition Grade Model 21

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:32,500.00 USD Estimated At:65,000.00 - 95,000.00 USD
Magnificent Cased Engraved Gold Inlaid Special Order Royal Grand American Exhibition Grade Model 21
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This is truly the most impressive and magnificent, multi-barreled Winchester Model 21 shotgun set that, in our opinion, has ever been produced. This shotgun set consists of one light weight receiver with six different, complete barreled sets made in 20, 24, 28, 32, 36 and 410 gauge. This shotgun set was manufactured by the Winchester factory in the white and transferred to the Connecticut Shotgun Mfg. Co. Each set is marked on top of the matte vent rib in a milled panel "CUSTOM BUILT BY WINCHESTER". Under the forearms the barrels are marked "WINCHESTER PROOF STEEL" and "CT. SHOTGUN MFG.", which finished fitting the metal parts, the deluxe wood and actually performed the intricate level of embellishment. Additionally the underside of each of the barrel flats is marked with the gauge marking, chamber length and the matching "W" prefix serial number. In the opinion of this describer, one of the most unique things that sets this shotgun set apart as the most rare and unusual is that the receiver and the forearm hardware are profusely covered in raised relief multi-color gold, platinum and silver inlays on casehardened steel parts. That in itself is truly remarkable! If you think about that one single aspect of this custom shotgun set alone, it completely separates this set far above all others, making it a true "one-of-a-kind" set. To perform that task alone the engraver had to hand polish the parts, layout the wildlife scenes, under cut all the metal surfaces for the gold animal inlays and gold fill work, then have the parts color casehardened. He then actually inlaid the gold animals and hunting scenes, and cut the details into the inlays without damaging the color casehardened finish, truly a magnificent feat. Each barrel set has a single red bead sight, milled flats, jeweled flats, lugs and ejectors, and are choked WS1/WS2. Each has a matching Presentation Grade black walnut beavertail forearm with extensive Fleur-de-Lis checkering and gold inlaid accented casehardened hardware. Each forearm has a raised gold simple scroll design and numbered 1 through 6 on the knuckle, ebony forend insert, jeweled latch assembly on the inside, numbered 1 through 6 on the wood and matching serial number on the wood and hardware. The 20, (1), 24, (2), and 32, (4), gauge barrels are 28 inches with 2 3/4 inch chambers, the 28, (3) gauge is 26 inches, with 2 3/4 inch chambers and the 36, (5) and 410, (6) gauge are 27 inches with 3 inch chambers. Each left barrel at the breech features a gold inlay of a partridge in a tree, and the right has a rooster pheasant. The scalloped action has a milled water table for weight reduction, single gold trigger with selector and both sides and the bottom have multi-colored gold inlay flying game bird field scenes. The left side has a covey of five flying quail with all inlays in both yellow and white gold, with silver highlights and copper providing the inlays for the marsh and grass. The right side of the action has a scene of four flying ring-neck pheasants, consisting of two roosters and two hens, again the inlays themselves are comprised of platinum and gold with copper highlights of the pheasant heads, field background and wooden fence post scenes. The recoil shields depict a rooster pheasant head on one and a quail head on the other. The top of the action has gold wire inlays and a gold flying dove inlay on the action lever, with carved duck head distal end. The underside of the action features a marsh scene with nine multi-colored gold duck inlays taking flight. The trigger guard itself also has multi-colored gold inlays of two woodcocks, one sitting and one flying and the field background scene has been cleverly framed or depicted by skeletonizing the bow itself to form a tree as the actual background. The trigger guard tang also has a gold inlay of a Gambel’s quail. The shotgun is mounted with a Presentation Grade English style straight grip black walnut stock with extensive Fleur-de-Lis carving and fine-line checkering, checkered bare wood butt, and gold initial oval inlay. This magnificent set comes complete in a beautiful elaborate oak and leather trunk case which features contrasting corners on the interior, large brass corner protectors on all exterior corners and gold embossed accents on the lid. The interior features a removable French fitted upper tray which contains the action and two barrel assemblies (#1 and #2), four gold plated oil and solvent containers, and gold 20 gauge snap caps. One compartment contains three sizes of horn handle turn screws; another contains leather cased cleaning brushes, and a horn firing pin block. A green padded leather separator protects the contents of the bottom half of the case, which holds barrel assemblies 3, 4, 5, 6, two horn handle chamber brushes, gold 28 gauge/410 snap caps, compartment containing leather case of brushes and cleaning rod. The leather separator and the interior satin lid lining are marked "CONNECTICUT/SHOTGUN/MANUFACTURING COMPANY" in gold. This is truly a magnificent one-of-a-kind game scene, multi-colored, gold inlayed, six barrel set made and proofed by Winchester, finished by Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing Co. The detail and magnitude of engraving of this set required multiple Master Engravers and it is the only known set in existence.
BBL: 26/27/28 inch vent rib
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 20
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grips:
Serial Number: W38145
Condition: New as custom made. The case is excellent.