December 2023 Sealed Bid Auction : Sale S1223 Lot 6540
DOBSON & ROSSON 20-BORE TOPLEVER HAMMERGUN, serial no. 24516,

Product Details

DOBSON & ROSSON 20-BORE TOPLEVER HAMMERGUN, serial no. 24516, circa 1887, 30in. black powder only damascus barrels (pitted), the rib engraved 'DOBSON & ROSSON. 4 MARKET HEAD. DERBY.' and with fine acanthus scroll detailing at the breech-end, 2 1/2in. chambers (pitted), bored approx. 1/2 choke in both, action incorporating W. M. Scott patent toplever, patent no. 2752 of 25th October 1865, use no. 24516, carved percussion fences, back-action locks with rebounding hammers, fine border and acanthus scroll engraving, retaining very slight traces of colour-hardening and finish, 14in. figured stock including buttplate, fore-end with snap-bolt release lever, weight 5lb. 13oz.

Provenance: The owner's of this gun have kindly provided us with the following information:

Dad purchased this gun from Johnson's of Swaffham, when he was around 10 years old; which would be around 1947.

Dad constantly talked about this guns provenance, stating Johnson's told him that the gun had come from the Rider Haggard estate (Novelist) but we have no written evidence of this only a voice recording of dad stating this.

Sir Henry Rider Haggard 22nd June 1856 - 14th May 1925. Born in Bradenham, Norfolk he was an English novelist and wrote adventure fiction romances that were set in exotic locations, largely Africa. He was a pioneer of the "lost world" literary genre.

Notable works include:
King Solomon's Mines,
Allan Quatermain series,
She: a History of Adventure.



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Estimate £300-500

S2 - Sold as a Section 2 Firearm under the 1968 Firearms Act