W. HORTON A FINE AND RARE 12-BORE 1901 PATENT 'IMPERIAL' GRADE SINGLE-TRIGGER BOXLOCK EJECTOR,

W. HORTON A FINE AND RARE 12-BORE 1901 PATENT 'IMPERIAL' GRADE SINGLE-TRIGGER BOXLOCK EJECTOR, serial no. 2298, 28in. nitro barrels with bold engraved bands at the breech ends, the sunken rib engraved 'W. HORTON. BUCHANAN ST. GLASGOW', 2 1/2in. chambers, bored approx. 1/2 and 3/4 choke, (right wall at 19), treble-grip asymmetric scroll-back action with removable striker discs, incorporating Horton patent 'Poly grip' toplever, patent no. 20,940 of 1st December 1891, broad top strap and finely fluted fences engraved ' W. HORTON. GLASGOW', automatic safety with gold-inlaid 'SAFE' detail, Deeley patent ejectors, patent no. 4269 of 1886, use number 7453, patent single trigger with ovate triggerguard, the action and furniture finely and profusely engraved with ornate scrolling borders and highly stylised flowing thistle and foliate designs on a matted background, the fore-end iron engraved en suite, the toplever with the mask of the Green man, retaining much original colour-hardening and finish, 14 1/4in. well-figured pistolgrip stock with horn pistolgrip-cap, black gold oval escutcheon with Chester 1925 hallmarks, bolstered fore-end wood, weight 6lb. 3oz., in a lightweight leather case with W. Horton labels and a pair of Horton headstamped 'dummy' cartridges, the lid outer marked 'WALTER MACFARLANE. SARACEN FOUNDRY. GLASGOW.' Provenance: The makers have kindly indicated that the serial number places the gun as having been made circa 1906/7 The name on the case will likely refer to Walter Macfarlane II, nephew to Walter Macfarlane, founding partner in the company Macfarlane & Co. Ltd., Scotland's premier manufacturer of ornamental ironwork. Macfarlane II (1853 - 1932) joined the firm in 1871 and became a partner in 1880. When his uncle died in 1885, he took over as owner and set on a course to both modernise and standardise the company and its products, to great effect. Utilising the skills of some of Glasgow's best architects, their designs for street lamps, drinking fountains, railings and bandstands were exported throughout the entire British Empire. They also designed and supplied the building interiors for clients such as Selfridges (London, 1928) and the Art Deco Burtons building on Argyle Street (1930) The Saracen Fountain in Alexandra Park, Glasgow was originally a showpiece, exhibited at the 1901 Glasgow International Exhibition before being generously donated to the city by Macfarlane.

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