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JOHN WILKES
A MAGNIFICENT PAIR OF KELL-ENGRAVED 12-BORE SIDELOCK EJECTOR GUNS, NOS. 13802/3
28-inch barrels with 2 1/2-inch chambers, about 1/4 and 3/4 choke borings, matted top ribs, the frames, locks and gold numbered top levers with best bouquet and scroll engraving and retaining virtually all of their original hardening colour, the inside of the fore-end irons with further bouquet and scroll engraving, gold washed lockwork, rolled edge trigger guards, 14 1/2-inch highly figured exhibition quality stocks, inlaid in gold with the entwined initials "W.D.", 6lb. 9oz., nitro proof, in their maker's presentation case with engraved fittings and canvas outer cover
S2
The maker confirms that the guns were completed on 24th August 1935 for W. W. Dowding. The guns were engraved by Harry Kell with special flower and scroll work and the guns remain as originally built. The original cost was £220 with the case costing £13 15s and the matching outer cover a further £5 12s 6d.
W. W. Dowding
William W. Dowding, for whom these guns were made, was one of the Wilkes' largest retail customers in the 1930s. He started to buy guns from them in 1931 and in the course of the next five years ordered a total of ten new guns as well as buying others and a wide variety of shooting requisites. The story passed down the family was that in 1933 Dowding challenged Jack Wilkes to make for him a pair of guns that were on a par with the best the London trade could offer. Guns 13802/3 were Jack's response to that challenge. Many years later his sons viewed this pair of guns as his masterpiece.
To make them, Wilkes went to many of the best outworkers in the the London trade. George Lane and Bolter normally worked for Woodward; Mealey at the time was on Wilkes' payroll, but had worked for Grant & Lang and several others in a very long career; and Willie Lane was shortly to join Grant & Lang's payroll. The engraver Harry Kell is probably the only outworker now widely known. |
Sold for £44000
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| Fine Modern and Vintage Sporting Guns |
| The Gleneagles Hotel, Scotland |
| 25 August 2014 |
| Commission is 25% ex. VAT. Artist's Resale Right may apply |
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