Castore | Dogs and Doubles

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January 3, 2016 by Gregg

WESTLEY RICHARDS 8 BORE- 16 Lbs. 3 Oz.- EXHIBIT PIECE at PARIS WORLD’S FAIR in 1900- 26″ FULLY RIFLED DAMASCUS Bbls.- EXC. BORES- CASED: Westley Toplever Centerfire Patent Ejector 8 Bore Rifle Finished in 1900 as an Exhibition Piece for the Paris World’s Fair in 1900, The barrels are 26″ Ejector Damascus fully rifled with 9 groove rifling with “C” Bolting” Dolls Head extension with a Third Bite, They both are initialed “F.L.” which most likely was Fred Lilley, A swamped concave stippled and engraved rib with 2 folding engraved sights at 50 & 100 yards, The rib engraved “3 1/4″ Case 12 Drams Spherical Ball 10 Drams Conical Bullet” which is special as the rifling pitch is such to handle both a round or conical bullet with the 12 dram or 10 dram load respectively, Top tang safety, Full length trigger guard tang to a steel engraved grip cap with a Bull Elephant engraved on the trigger guard bow, Extremely solid and sound wood with very nice color & contrast, Shadowline cheekpiece, Checkered side panels with carved teardrops, Sling eyes, Deeley & Edge forend release with a horn tip, John Deeley was the managing director of Westley from 1872 to 1899, He helped create the famous Anson & Deeley action, Great stock length at 15 1/8″ LOP over a 7/8″ Silvers pad, Great weight at 16 Lbs. 3 Oz., This is a full rifled set of barrels and the bores remain excellent and I would put the right bore at 90% and the left bore at 95-96% from the day they were rifled, All the screws are in very good to excellent shape and nearly everyone lays north & south, Original damascus pattern remains at 80%, The wood finish remains at 90%, The checkering remains at 97%, The whole is cased in an oak & leather brass cornered trunk with proper cleaning accessories. This is an interesting 8 bore with an Anson & Deeley toplever action with ejectors and certainly worthy as an exhibit gun at the Paris World’s Fair in 1900. It comes with a very interesting and original Paris World’s Fair catalog that is great reading of a bygone era. Price: $45,000

PARKER PH IN RARE 8GA WITH 38″ BARRELS: VISIBLE PATINA ON PLAIN TWIST BARRELS, SILVER BROWN RECEIVER WITH SOME SPOTTING, NICE STRONG ENGRAVING, MARKED P ON WATER TABLE WHICH HAS NICE CASE COLORS AND SHOWS ALMOST NO SIGN OF USE ON THE FACE AROUND THE FIRING PIS, GOOD WOOD WITH NO CRACKS AND SOME HUNTING DINGS, BEAUTIFUL SHINY BORE, 1 OF 11 38″ PARKER 8GA GUNS AND ONE OF 2 MARKED PT 8GA 38″ IN THE PARKER BOOK(CHART ON PAGE 1003), MADE IN 1913. Price: $19,500

FAMARS Castore 12G Sidelock SXS Self Cocking Hammer Gun: This is a stunning FAMARS 12G Side-by-Side Shotgun. A true sidelock. Manufactured in the 70s, this gun represents the heyday of the FAMARS organization which was known for its high quality and beautiful craftmanship. Price: $16,500.
– Beautifully browned 28″ barrels choked R(.017) and L(.031). Concave rib. Notice pix showing minor marks on barrels.
– ARMI FAMARS appears in gold on the top rib and on the sidelocks. The gold FAMARS emblem is on the forend.
– Beautiful engraving by Pasolini as inscribed on the gun. Engraving is of the very fine European style but subtle and not overdone. Neptune dragon on top lever with a gold crown.
– Self cocking lower profile hammers. Double triggers.
– Stock dimensions: 15 1/4″ LOP over 1″ leather pad which shows wear. 1 5/8″ DAC and 2 1/2″ DAH. Slight cast on for LH shooter. Weight 7 lbs. 10oz.
– Wood very nicely grained.
– Original maker’s black leather trunk case.

MERKEL, O/U, model 201E PreWar (Mfg 1929), 20 GA: 28 1/2”, F& F, ST, Capped Pistol Grip, 3-piece Forened, Solid Rib, Fine Scroll & Rosette Engraving, Casehardened Receiver, Pad, Dimensions 1 1/2 x 2 3/4 x 14 3/8 with 1/4 cast off, Weight 6#3oz, 2 1/2″ chambers, ID 3846, Near EXC. Condition. Price: $3,900

W W GREENER FH35 12ga Sold by Abrecrombie & Fitch in 1936 w/papers & hang tag: This is a one owner W.W. GREENER MODEL FH35 in 12 gauge with ejectors. Excellent overall condition. 30″ Full Choke barrels with excellent bores. Barrel blue is about 99% original. Case colors are about 50/60%. Beautiful walnut wood. Comes with original bill of sale dated 1936 from Abercrombie & Fitch, New York, And original hang tag. Price: $3500

This week’s good guns: Powered by Gunsinternational.com…

January 18, 2015 by Gregg

Pre-war Boss 20 ga., 26-1/2″ barrels: Choked improved cylinder and modified (.007/.010). Original 2-3/4 1oz. heavy proof. Raised concave game rib marked “Boss & Co. 41 Albermarle Street Picadilly London W”. Built with the style and grace that these “golden era” Boss guns are famous for. The petite “easy opening” action gun weighs a mere 5lbs, 5 oz. Fitted with the Boss patent single trigger. Well-figured stock measures 1-3/8″ comb, 1-7/8″ heel, 14-1/4″ LOP to a checkered butt. Balanced directly on the pin, this estate-fresh example retains 97% original blue, 80% vibrant case colors over the jewel-like engraving by the renowned Jack Sumner. Built in 1930 to the true small bore specs, a unique opportunity to purchase a seldom-seen heavy proof vintage 20. Cased in original violin case. Price: $59,500

A&S Famars Castore Hammergun – Pasolini Engraved and Fabulous Wood – Like New Condition: Beautiful A&S Famars Castore 12 gauge self-cocking hammergun with double triggers engraved by Master Engraver Pasolini and restocked by Piotti in a fabulous piece of Circassian walnut. Cased in a leather maker’s case with trade label and mahogany three-piece cleaning rod. Made in 1974 when both Mario Abbiatico and Remo Salvinelli were active in the business. In fact, “Remo” is engraved on the bottom of the rear lug indicating that he personally worked on this gun. *** The frame is beautifully engraved and has uniquely shaped fences, ornately engraved hammers, and a signature likeness of Neptune on the pierced toplever. Maker’s name “Famars” is inlaid in gold on the bottom of the frame and a gold crown is inlaid in the toplever. Overall weight is 7lb 4oz. *** The 28” barrels have 2-3/4” chambers and auto ejectors. The right barrel has a constriction of 0.010 for Improved Cylinder choke. The left has a constriction of 0.020 for Modified choke. Topped with a smooth concave game style rib. The breech ends of the barrels are adorned by two gold rings with one ring at the muzzles as well. The maker’s name “Armi Famars” is inlaid in gold on the top of the rib. *** This Castore was restocked in a fabulous piece of Circassian walnut by Piotti in Italy. Straight grip and splinter forearm. Professionally installed leather recoil pad. Stock dimensions are 1-3/8” by 2-1/4” by 15”. *** This rare and highly desirable double is in like new condition. Price: $18,495

Harris Holland 500BPE Side-by-Side Double Rifle — Harris Holland .500 BPE Side-by-Side Double Rifle

Harris Holland .500 BPE Double Rifle: A Holland 3″ 500BPE double express rifle by Harris Holland. SN 39xx. Harris was the first of the Hollands in “Holland and Holland” and the founder if the initial company. This rifle is in excellent condition for a 140 year old rifle. It has been well taken care of. The 28″ damascus barrels have near excellent bores probably regulated by Bill Froome because it shoots excellent diagrams with black or smokeless powder. They have early Metford style rifling with square lands and grooves. LOP is 14″ to a steel shotgun style butt. It weighs 8 1/2 lbs. Load data appears on left action bar – characteristic of Holland rifles. There is about 60% coverage of fine English scroll crisp and like new. It is very tight and on face with a unique “dolls head” top rib projection – see photos. There are no “negatives” regarding this rifle. I will pay shipping to the contiguous 48. I have plenty more pics and will create specials upon request. Price: $14,500

PARKER REPRODUCTION DHE 28 GAUGE: 26″IC AND MOD 2 3/4 DOUBLE TRIGGER EJECTORS SPLINTER FOREARM PISTOL GRIP SKELETON BUTT NEW CONDITION IN MAKERS CASE 5LBS 6 OZ X 2 1/8″ X 1 3/8″ X 14 1/2″. Price: $5,500

Lefever EE 16ga SxS double Barrel Shotgun - Rare — Lefever EE 16ga SxS double Barrel Shotgun – Rare

Lefever EE 16ga – Rare: Gun retains 50%-60% plus bright original overall case color on frame and sideplates. Roughly 85-90% original plum barrel blue. Original chokes and chambers- 2 5/8″ chambers and choked I/C and Mod. Excellent bores, 28″ Krupp fluid steel barrels. Original butt stock retains most of the original varnish and does have a white line pad on it. Splinter forearm which, while matches nicely, is likely an early Ithaca replacement based on the engraving and checkering pattern. Nicely engraved with one dog on each side in typical E grade pattern in the 54,xxx serial range. Price: $4995

Is FAMARS out of business?

March 28, 2013March 28, 2013 by Gregg

I’m sorry to say this, but from what I’ve heard and seen the answer is yes – FAMARS is gone, and their factory in Gardone Val Trompia, Italy, is shut down and locked up.

Founded in 1967 Mario Abbiatico and Remo Salvinelli, FAMARS was an acronym for Fabbrica Armi Mario Abbiatico e Remo Salvinelli.

The company was innovative and they made some nice shotguns, including the Castore, a self-cocking sidelock hammer gun with and automatic ejectors, and the Quattrocanne, a four-barrelled design with a single trigger. They also made the Avantis, the first side-by-side with a removable trigger group, and the Leonardo, a best-grade sidelock over-and-under shotgun built on their own design.

FAMARS factory at company's peak — FAMARS factory at company’s peak

In 2010, FAMARS USA was launched to expand the company’s customer service abilities and to introduce branded knives, gun equipment, shooting accessories, clothing, and sportsman jewelry. I am not sure where FAMARS’s collapse leaves this American division.

I’ve reached out to the FAMARS and FAMARS USA and several times for information about the company’s demise. Unfortunately, no one has responded to my requests for comments or further details.