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CptCurlAdministrator
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Gibbs Farquharson .280 Flanged NE
      #157665 - 28/03/10 01:23 AM

Oh wouldn't this be nice to own!

Glenn Fewless, what say ye? I hope you bid on this.

http://www.amoskeag-auction.com/76/160.html

Cased George Gibbs Bespoke Best Quality Farquharson Sporting Rifle

Serial #20204 (APUN #972), .280 Flanged, 28" lightweight barrel with a bright excellent bore. This wonderful British sporting rifle was ordered by J. Hamilton Leigh in November of 1909 and was finished and delivered in August 1910. The rifle features full coverage tight English scroll engraving on action with left side engraved in open panel "GEORGE GIBBS / BRISTOL & LONDON". The barrel is engraved "GEORGE GIBBS. BRISTOL. / & 35 SAVILLE ROW. LONDON N.W." and bears proper proofs. The condition of the rifle is completely honest and quite lovely. The action retains 95% original color case-hardened finish which remains quite vivid. The barrel retains about 20% original blue which has thinned evenly and has an overall smooth gray brown patina. The checkered pistol grip buttstock and forend are of nicely figured English walnut and rate excellent with about 90% plus original oil finish remaining and with good strong checkering. The rifle is equipped with its original automatic safety with the word "SAFE" inlaid in gold on top tang. The left side of the butt has a padded leather cheekpiece, very similar to those sometimes found on 18th century French flintlock fowlers. Jonathan Kirton, noted expert on Gibbs rifles, surmises that this pad was likely added to the rifle in 1911 during Leigh's trip to East Africa, possibly by a craftsman in Mombasa, as rifle #20027, also owned by Leigh and taken on this trip features the same type of pad. Kirton has travelled to this part of Africa and has noticed other guns with these unusual cheek pads. The rifle comes cased in its original canvas covered trunk style case with brass reinforced corners. The case includes the original leather pouch which contains the original spare main spring, link and firing pin. A turned bone container with threaded cover contains two extra front sights and several screws. Both the leather pouch and bone container are original and numbered to the rifle in ink. Also included is an oiler, brass cleaning rod and an ebony handled turnscrew. J. Hamilton Leigh was born at Stockport, England in 1867 to well-to-do parents. He served with two Scottish Highland regiments and served as Vice President of the National Rifle Association of Great Britain. The rifle comes with the original owner's personal copies of Stonehenge's "The Modern Sportman's Gun and Rifle" Vols. 1 & 2 published in 1884. This rifle was the subject of articles by Jonathan Kirton which appeared in, and graced the covers of, the April, 2007 issue of "Gun Report" as well as Vol. XIII Issue 2 of "Classic Arms & Militaria" of Britain. A fabulous British sporting rifle with interesting history. (3591-1) {C&R} (15,000/25,000)













Curl

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HuviusModerator
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson .280 Flanged NE [Re: CptCurl]
      #157675 - 28/03/10 04:20 AM

Nice gun and with a documented history to boot.
Bouldersmith and I have gone back and forth on the merits of this gun - it will be interesting to see what the bid gets to.
Is a good look at a proper case for a sporter though - I need one ya know...

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TH44
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson .280 Flanged NE [Re: Huvius]
      #157684 - 28/03/10 04:53 AM

Very nice - I have always considered the Gibbs as the premier Farquharson action, making it themselves
As Huvius says, it would be interesting to see what it makes, perhaps one of you guys will post?
The buyers premium at Holts, London, (see Purdey DR post) this week is now 26% with tax, I take it will be similar? It puts the cost up considerably
My own Gibbs is much plainer, starting life as a MBL before being rebarrelled to .450 then .500
TH44


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HuviusModerator
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson .280 Flanged NE [Re: TH44]
      #157694 - 28/03/10 07:11 AM

All right TH44, where are the pictures?
Don't be holding out on us now...

I was thinking this Farq. would be good to guage the high end Gibbs sporter market but I think the chambering could hurt it. Provenance notwithstanding.
There have been some excellent cased match rifles sold at auction in the last few years in this estimate range but they have a bit different clientele. The market may be a bit softer now too.
My bet is closer to the low estimate.

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CptCurlAdministrator
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson .280 Flanged NE [Re: Huvius]
      #157698 - 28/03/10 08:47 AM

Yeah I think the chamber hurts the sales price of this one. But it's a great cartridge in its own right.

Brass is hard to get and may not fit the chamber if you get it. That's my experience. Bertram's brass wouldn't go in the chamber of my C. Lancaster double. I had to reduce the head size. I don't have a lathe, so I used a drill press and a file followed with very fine emory paper glued to a flat popsicle stick.

I sure would like to have this rifle, even with the chamber. When I had my Lancaster DR I bought a Corbin press and bullet dies in .289". I used it to swage up standard 7mm bullets. Still have all the loading eqipment.

I want a Gibbs Farquharson! Had a shot at a .303 Brit. Hesitated while dickering over the price, and Poof! somebody else bought it. That's my luck.



That's what it looked like. Wish I had jumped when I had the chance. Love a .303 Brit.

Curl

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YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.



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TH44
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson .280 Flanged NE [Re: CptCurl]
      #157702 - 28/03/10 10:21 AM

Huvius - I took this pic for my avatar but cant work out how to apply it
I will take some more pics in the next few days and post them - here? or under "single shots"?



Very peculiar history, will detail also

Curl - There was a .303 Gibbs at the same auction I got this but I did not appreciate the rarity or I would have gone after it also

TH44

Edited by CptCurl (30/03/10 12:14 PM)


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SharpsNitro
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson .280 Flanged NE [Re: CptCurl]
      #157707 - 28/03/10 12:00 PM

Very nice rifle. Except for that cheek pad that was put on it, it's a shame as it looks like that side of the stock had great figure to the wood. Lot's of other single shots in that auction I would love to have. Some really high end Winchester's and a couple of nice Borchardt's.

I'll be interested as well to see what it sold for. I shot my Gibbs in .250-3000 a few weeks ago and think it is close to the perfect stalking rifle. I really need to get it re-stocked.


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HuviusModerator
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson .280 Flanged NE [Re: CptCurl]
      #157709 - 28/03/10 02:00 PM

Curl,
I just recently picked up a Gibbs in 303 Brit.
It started life as a best quality back position match rifle and was subsequently rebarreled by Gibbs as a 303 sporter. I believe Gibbs replaced the forend at the time as well - there is a bit of difference in the wood, but it is absolutely in the Gibbs style.
It is far from original, but many of the match rifles were later converted to sporter use - and as an actual Gibbs conversion, it doesn't bother me so much...

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CptCurlAdministrator
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson .280 Flanged NE [Re: Huvius]
      #157726 - 29/03/10 12:02 AM

Huvius,

Maybe it bothers you enough to let me have it.

Curl

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YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.



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Paul
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson .280 Flanged NE [Re: CptCurl]
      #157730 - 29/03/10 12:37 AM

Quote:

A fabulous British sporting rifle with interesting history.





Authentic and all that, of course, but what paralysis of the intellect made makers put such pathetic fore ends on rifles with long barrels? Balance is one thing but holding the thing steady must have been a chore.

Heap coals here


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bouldersmith
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson .280 Flanged NE [Re: Paul]
      #157734 - 29/03/10 01:23 AM

I liked the fore end on the Gibbs I owned, and on my other British falling block rifles. Holding it steady was not an issue in the case of my Holland and this Whitetail.



As too the Rifle at Auction, how often do you see a Best Quality Gibbs with a top tang safety? I really think Huvis should have bought it. That way I could have played with it too.

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Edited by CptCurl (30/03/10 12:15 PM)


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HuviusModerator
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson .280 Flanged NE [Re: bouldersmith]
      #157740 - 29/03/10 01:49 AM

I'm saving up for a certain Westley Richards...
Owner doesn't want to sell...yet...

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bouldersmith
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson .280 Flanged NE [Re: Huvius]
      #157743 - 29/03/10 02:35 AM

A situation like that allows you to save a LOT of money.......

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HuviusModerator
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson .280 Flanged NE [Re: CptCurl]
      #157745 - 29/03/10 03:29 AM

Quote:

Huvius,

Maybe it bothers you enough to let me have it.

Curl




I posted it over on the SS section.
It really doesn't bother me so much...

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CptCurlAdministrator
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson .280 Flanged NE [Re: Huvius]
      #157863 - 30/03/10 12:17 PM

Well it's bothering me right bad!

And I moved this thread over to the SS section where I should have posted it all along.

I want a Gibbs Farquharson.

Does anybody know if the .280 sold?

Curl

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CptCurlAdministrator
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson .280 Flanged NE [Re: CptCurl]
      #157974 - 01/04/10 05:04 AM

Wow! The Gibbs sold for $17,250.00 on March 27, 2010.

Curl

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YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.



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Anonymous
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson .280 Flanged NE [Re: CptCurl]
      #157981 - 01/04/10 07:38 AM

Quote:

Wow! The Gibbs sold for $17,250.00 on March 27, 2010.

Curl




They keep going up and up..


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bouldersmith
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson .280 Flanged NE [Re: ]
      #157991 - 01/04/10 08:58 AM

oddly I don't see it that way. That gun would have brought 7-8K more 2 years ago. A damn good buy in my mind. Not far off from my estimate, eh Huvis?

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HuviusModerator
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson .280 Flanged NE [Re: bouldersmith]
      #158002 - 01/04/10 12:19 PM

C'mon - I was the one that said it would be closer to the low estimate! I think you said over 20...
IMO, the fact that it had the original case and a known provenance helped a lot on this one.
Take the same rifle, same condition, same chambering etc. with unknown lineage and no case and it is a $12-13K gun instead of $17K, again, just my opinion.

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bouldersmith
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson .280 Flanged NE [Re: Huvius]
      #158023 - 01/04/10 10:17 PM

I think I said 15-20.....either way, someone has a nice gun. I do not see the provenance adding to the value of the rifle. Again just my view. I sold a much much more tired Gibbs with a replacement barrel and needing all of its engraving picked up for almost 8K. I feel this gun was worth every penny of the sale price. If any of you out there are wanting to move nice Nitro proved top tang safety Gibbs rifles at bargain prices, please let me know. I doubt I will be hearing for many of you on that one though. These guns make hens teeth look common.

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SXS
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson .280 Flanged NE [Re: bouldersmith]
      #158191 - 04/04/10 09:21 AM

A couple of things not mentioned in the auction description of this rifle are that it belonged to Jonathan Kirton probably from the 60's; and is minutely described and pictured in his book :|"THE BRITISH FALLING BLOCK BREECHLOADING RIFLE". He mentions that probably fewer than 35 tang safety Gibbs rifles were produced, and that this rifle, being one of the last 15 made, has the original production records extant. It took eight men 678 hours and 35 minutes of labor to produce this rifle not including engraving! It is interesting to note that the barrel contour is identical to the Ross sporters of the same time, and that the barrel was probably procured from whoever produced the barrels for Ross. This rifle is the culmintion of 45 years of development and the product of one of the best gunmakers ever. The only mention of it's history before it came to Canada in the 60's is that it probably spent much time in East Africa, as there are a few much faded Uganda Railway stickers on the case.

All the best, SXS


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Lockingblock
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson .280 Flanged NE [Re: CptCurl]
      #307223 - 04/11/17 10:54 AM


http://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-fo...un_id=100794226


Wondering what brass would fit and what the bore measurements are...

it’s a great cartridge but brass, bullets, and dies look uber rare.

Edited by Lockingblock (04/11/17 10:59 AM)


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HuviusModerator
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson .280 Flanged NE [Re: Lockingblock]
      #307235 - 05/11/17 02:13 AM

All of the stuff for the 280 can be sourced but as you say, spendy and not a lot of options as to what's available.
I'm not thinking that any other brass can be modified for the 280 but I haven't really looked into that.
In that condition, not a rifle which will be shot a lot I'd think.

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Edited by Huvius (05/11/17 02:15 AM)


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93x64mm
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson .280 Flanged NE [Re: Lockingblock]
      #307248 - 05/11/17 07:26 AM

Quote:


http://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-fo...un_id=100794226


Wondering what brass would fit and what the bore measurements are...

it’s a great cartridge but brass, bullets, and dies look uber rare.



Now that is one fantastic rifle, a lot more than a whole years wages (probably 2 most likely) I would guess to even get a look in for this double!
Pristine comes readily to mind when looking at this one - an absolutely wonderful piece of kit!


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