FINE EARLY J. WOODWARD & SONS HAMMER DOUBLE BARREL RIFLE. SN 3519. Cal. 500 BPE. Wonderful & unique rifle with 27” steel bbls with ivory caterpillar front sight and 4-leaf platinum line express rear sight, 3-folding, 1-standing, graduated 150 to 500 yards. It has a flat, tapered, hand-matted rib with doll’s head rib extension, sgl underbite with black powder proofs. Bottom of bbls, under forearm, has maker’s initials and “HENRY’S PATENT”. It has a fine round receiver with deep scalloped firing pin wells and is marked on bottom “THE AUTOMATIC / WOODWARD’S PATENT”. It has back action peninsula locks with stalking safeties with underlever around trigger guard. When hammers are in fired position and lever is opened, hammers are automatically moved into safety position. Receiver, lockplates & hammers and all appended metal are beautifully engraved with very fine foliate arabesque patterns and it has maker’s name on each lockplate. Mounted with very highly figured, streaky, honey & chocolate, French or Circassian walnut with checkered splinter forearm and horn cap pistol grip stock with shallow cheekpiece, 14-1/2” over a checkered & engraved steel buttplate. Forearm is also unusual in that the wedge has a large oval button head with “PRESS” inlaid in gold that when depressed releases forearm. Weight: 9 lbs, 5.12 oz. PROVENANCE: John Amber Collection, Bourne Auctio Lot #485, Nov 1986. Glenn Marsh Collection. CONDITION: Fine to very fine. Bbls retain about all of a fine restored brown finish. Receiver retains 30-40% faded case colors with balance turned silver. Lockplates retain 75-80% faded case colors, stronger in sheltered areas, turning silver elsewhere. Forearm has a repaired crack and is missing a chip and there is a hairline back of top tang, otherwise wood is sound with forearm showing moderate to heavy wear and retains a hand worn patina. Buttstock has normal handling & use marks and retains most of its beautiful hand rubbed oil finish. Mechanics are crisp with bright shiny bores. 4-59601 JR303 (4,000-7,000)
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