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George Gibbs Farqharson Action .22LR Sporting Rifle
https://hindmanauctions.com/auctions/6312-arms-armor-and-militaria/lot/275

.22 LR. 26" barrel length. SN: 18566. Blued metal refinish to barrel with casehardened finish to the frame largely faded to silver set in walnut semi-pistol grip stock with fine multipoint checkering to wrist and forend mounting a checkered steel buttplate with sunburst and scroll engraving to the upper screw, and checkering over the lower. Single shot falling block Farquharson action rifle mounting rear notch and front bead sights in addition to a tang mounted Lyman rear aperture sight marked PAT. JAN. 20. 79. MAY 6. 84. Left side of the frame is engraved GEORGE GIBBS/BRISTOL within fine English scroll engraving consisting of spiral scrollwork with wheat chaff borders and Arabesque embellishments. Right frame duplicates the engraving on the left with rose and scroll taking the place of the maker's mark on the right. Barrel address reads GEORGE GIBBS. BRISTOL, & 33 SAVILE ROW, LONDON. W. Barrel is struck with two caliber marks on each side, both reading .22 L.R., the latter followed by British smokeless powder firing proofs, and Birmingham proof markings. Top of the frame shows action number 918 with the tang engraved 18566, and the right barrel marked B5905. The barrel was relined to convert it to 22 LR, and the original Nitro proof markings show a partially removed 6.5 mm marking. Extractors have been extended to work with 22 Long Rifle with ears attached by brass brazing. Rare sliding safety lever to the right frame has been reblued but retains crisp engraving and checkering. Barrel and butt mount sling loops with the toe of the stock mounting a silver oval plate that is not signed. Stock has been refinished with the metal fitting proud of the wood and rounded corners and edges.

Belgian .600 Nitro Express No. 5 Size Farquharson Rifle Made for the Comte De Lalaing
https://hindmanauctions.com/auctions/6312-arms-armor-and-militaria/lot/274

.600 Nitro Express. 27.375" barrel length. SN: 7393. Polished bright metal finish to frame with blued barrel set in walnut semi-pistol grip stock with bordered multipoint checkering to the wrist and forend. Single shot falling block Farquharson action rifle bearing the {Seal of the Counts of Lalaing} to the upper barrel, indicating it was made for one of the ranking members of the famous de Lalaing family, an aristocratic line from Flanders whose history has been traced for approximately 1000 years. Left side of the frame is engraved with the maker marking Jansen fournisseurs/de sa Majeste le Roi/Bruxelles, roughly translating to Jansen Gunmakers of his Majesty the King of Brussels, and indicating the rifle was manufactured by Adolphe Jansen. Frame is engraved overall with floral and Arabesque designs above a beaded ground, along with sunburst engraving to the hinge pin and action screws. Further border scroll surrounds the bright muzzle. Sights consist of triple folding rear notches regulated to 100, 200, and 300 meters paired with a front bead sight. Item mounts front and rear sling loops, and features a tang safety with gold inlaid S safety marking. Rifle mounts an unmarked vented red rubber recoil pad with black and white spacers. Checkering crosses over the border in places, suggesting it was done by hand, and possibly reapplied at some point. Standard Belgian firing proofs to the barrel, frame, and breechblock. The Bright metal finish suggests this rifle was at one possibly polished for engraving but never case colored afterward.

The rifle was most likely originally manufactured by Auguste Francotte for Jansen, and further finished for its intended recipient, a common practice in gunmaking that persists to this day. In the case of this rifle, it was finished by the company of Adolphe Jansen, a Liege gunmaker who was credited as the gunmaker to the King of Brussels. In the case of this rifle, it was produced to the then Count de Lalaing, possibly Jacques III, who served as ambassador to the King of England, and well known for his love of travel, especially in the company of his wife and children. Given its caliber, this Farquharson pattern rifle was meant to serve him on an African safari. Originally introduced by W.J. Jeffery & Co., the enormous .600 Nitro Express cartridge was designed to take down the largest land animals on Earth. Its performance against anything from beyond this planet remains untested. {C&R}

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