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George Gibbs Farquharson in the next Rock Island auction.

Description from the auction:

The top of the barrel is marked "METFORD 1764 GEORGE GIBBS 39 CORN ST. BRISTOL .275 BORE" behind the rear sight. The barrel is equipped with a raised blade front sight and a rear sight composed of three leaf sights (one fixed, two folding) and one ladder sight. The ladder sight is graduated 100-800 and marked "Charge/90/570" on the left side and graduated 200-500 and marked "Charge 100/360" on the right side. One of the folding leaf sights is marked "300/Charge" and "YDS/100/360", while the other folding leaf sight is marked "200/Charge" and "YDS/100/360". The action, trigger guard and lever feature a fine scroll engraving with the action marked "GEORGE GIBBS/BRISTOL" on the left side, "800" on top of the chamber and "BOLTED" in gold on the right side. The pistol grip stock and forearm are highly figured walnut with multi-point checkering on the forearm, checkered steel buttplate with compartment, metal grip cap with engraved compartment, silver blank initial oval and contrasting forend tip. Form fitting thin sheet steel panels are inletted and screwed onto both sides of the pistol grip and extend halfway down the butt for reinforcement. These panels are called Selous side plates and are named after the famed African hunter Frederic C. Selous (1851-1917). Selous is credited for designing stock plates, such as the type that are on this rifle, to reduce the chances of the stock breaking during heavy recoil. Famed British explorer, officer, hunter and conservationist, Frederic C. Selous was a true life adventurer best known for his exploits in South-East Africa who defined the popular image of the traveling Englishman in Imperial Africa. His circle of friends included other historical figures of the late 19th/early 20th century such as Theodore Roosevelt, Cecil Rhodes and Frederick Russell Burnham. While participating in British Army action against German forces on the banks of the Rufiji River during World War I, Selous was killed by a German sniper on January 4, 1917. He was 65 years old. Consignor states that this is "one of two [Gibbs rifles with Selous side plate] in existence. Drop at comb 1 1/2 inches, drop at heel 1 7/8 inches, cast off at heel 1/8 inches, cast off at toe 1/4". The rifle comes with a contemporary oak case lined in red felt, James Dixon & Sons oiler and brush.
Condition: Very good as custom refinished. The rifle retains 98% of the blue finish showing some high edge wear. There is some finished over pitting mostly on the Selous side plates. The forearm is a well made, high quality, custom replacement and the buttstock has a hole from a removed sling swivel. Mechanically fine.

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He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.

Edited by CptCurl (19/07/14 10:57 PM)

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