Product Details
JOHN DICKSON & SON, EDINBURGH
AN EXCEPTIONALLY FINE CASED 16-BORE DOUBLE-BARRELLED SPORTING-RIFLE, serial no. 1685,
for 1855, with browned 29in. two-groove rifled damascus barrels, the top-flat signed at breech 'JOHN DICKSON & SON, 63 PRINCES STREET, EDINBURGH', the remainder of the rib matted, inlet fore-sight, triple folding leaf rear-sight, colour-hardened breech-blocks with engraved platinum vented plugs and border and scroll engraved detail, fully borderline and scroll engraved colour-hardened top-tang, border and scroll engraved colour-hardened bar-action locks signed 'JOHN DICKSON & SON', en-suite dolphin-headed hammers, sliding safes forwards of the hammer breasts, figure walnut chequered half-stock (finish refreshed, expert inlet repair to edge of fore-end) with shallow raised cheek-piece, colour hardened engraved iron patch-box to the right hand side, blued chequered and engraved heel-plate, blued trigger guard bow with raised and chequered pistol-grip tang, eye and button sling mounts and brass mounted under-barrel ramrod, complete with its maker's brass cornered oak storage case lined and compartmented in embossed leatherette, parchment trade-label inside lid and sporting a full suite of accessories including a powder-flask, bullet mould, nipple-key, various patch and nipple pots plus assorted tools and turn-screws and a later 'K. Steggles' snail capper, the rifle retaining the majority of its apparently original finish and appearing little used, the lid of the case with circular brass escutcheon engraved 'ALEX HINTZE 1867', the name repeated on both the underside stock escutcheon and on an applied leather label affixed to the leather case outer (losses to straps and end-flaps), together with a hand-written inventory list (in English) and notes on loading (in Finnish) and a test target shot in 1906
Provenance: Alex Hintze (1846-1924)
Hintze was a sporting journalist of Finnish descent and was the editor of the first Finnish sports magazine. In 1869 he was one of the founders of the Helsinki Shooters Association and became editor of "Sporten" magazine in 1881. The date on the escutcheon would indicate the rifle may have been a 21st birthday present.
Other Notes: Donald Dallas's book, 'John Dickson & Son , The Round Action Gun Maker' lists the date of sale of this rifle as the 18th September 1855 as a 30in. 16-bore double two groove rifle.
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Estimate £7,000-9,000