Spring 2026 Premier Firearms & Militaria Auction
February 26th, February 27th, February 28th, and March 1st, 2026
This auction will feature an outstanding collection of items spanning multiple categories including Modern, Military, Sporting, & Antique firearms & militaria! Below is just a small grouping of select highlights from the massive offering to be featured in this upcoming sale!
ELEGANT J. WOODWARD AUTOMATIC HAMMERLESS SLE GAME GUN WITH THUMB HOLE LEVER
01-28453 | Cal. 12 Ga. 2-1/2″ | S# 4643 (1892).
The 28″ chopper lump barrels are engraved “James Woodward & Sons, 64 St. James’s Street, London. S.W. Made of Sir Joseph Whitworth’s Fluid Pressed Steel” on narrow game rib. Rear of rib is gold inlaid “3”. Barrel flats are stamped with London black powder proofs and “CHOKE”. Bottoms of barrels are stamped “J.W. & S” with S#’s and “WHITWORTH STEEL”. Case hardened side lock action fitted with Purdey type thumb hole opening lever features automatic safety (“SAFE” in gold. Safety has classic “T” shape.), bug eye tumbler pivots with gold line tumbler end cocking indicators, bushed strikers and double triggers. Action is filed with classic Woodward arcaded fences and engraved with near full coverage nicely cut small shaded scroll. “J. WOODWARD & SONS” is in classic parchment scroll on each lockplate. “3” in gold is on top of action. Dramatically marbled and lightly figured European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-3/4″ over black pig skin leather covered pad and features classic drop points, checkering and silver oval engraved with a monogram “HHIY”(?). Matching splinter Deeley ejector forend has Anson release and is engraved “3” on iron. MEASUREMENTS: BBLS: Bore Diameter: L .736. R .734. Restriction: L .015 (mod). R .005 (IC). Wall thickness: L .020 (3″ area bottom quadrant left barrel 9-12″ behind muzzle otherwise mostly .025) R .027. STOCK: DAH: 2″. DAC: 1-1/2″. CAST: about 5/8″ off. LOP: 14-3/4″. WEIGHT: 6 lb. 7 oz. PROVENANCE: From the Private Collection of Berrien Moore III. STATUS: ANTIQUE.
