BHE Damascus 20

[Bill Murphy]

Congratulations to whichever of us successfully bid on this great little BHE Damascus 20 this afternoon. Some shotgun.

[edgarspencer]

The engraving was as nice as any I have ever seen. I loved the bolsters and top lever.

[Mills Morrison]

I missed that one. I wonder if it is the same lucky (and rich) person who bought the BH with rondelle engraving which was on Puglisi's website, but is no longer there

[David Noble]

Well.... I bid on it but was not successful so no congratulations are in order for me. I wanted that gun bad.
The same bidder also beat me out on the Remington 1894 EEO and 1894 CE doubles. The CE sold for way less than I was going to go on it because the auction cycled thru to the hammer before my bids registered. That CE was either a special ordered gun or was possibly a DE grade.
I lost the Remington Whitmore also due to the auction moving faster than my internet connection. It also went for less than I was trying to bid. If they'd slow down just a bit there would be more money in their pockets! On some lots there would be pauses while the auctioneer talked up the product, but on others it was bam, bam, bam, over!
I did win one double though, a Midland (London & Birmingham) 12ga. The gun I wanted least.
Oh well. I congratulate the bidder on his wins and fine taste in guns!

[Mike Shepherd]

Where or what site was the auction on? I missed it.

[Kevin McCormack]

Congratulations to whichever of us successfully bid on this great little BHE Damascus 20 this afternoon. Some shotgun.

What BHE Damascus 20? What auction? Where? Who bought it? What did it sell for? When did the auction start? Why didn't you notify us so everyone could participate? Why the h*ll won't you people share the sandbox (and the misery)???!!!

[Craig Larter]

I believe it was the BH at the Cowan's auction. Sold for $22,800. My BHE 12 ga is a twin in terms of engraving---beautiful gun. Another 12ga with the same engraving was displayed at the Southern this weekend. I thought the engraving on my BHE was unique but I have observed a number of B's in the 1904-5 period with the same layout.
http://www.cowansauctions.com/auctions/item.aspx?id=142454

Here is picture of my BHE 12ga
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t2/clarter/DSC_0009a1_zps7b27eb73.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t2/clarter/closeup1_zps5aed81a6.jpg

[David Noble]

Edit: Craig beat me to the punch here.

Lot 1046

[edgarspencer]

The lucky bidder was intent on owning it. He was high bidder at over $11K before the auction went live. I wish my BHE was 20 years older.

[Kevin McCormack]

Now, the engraving on this and Craig's BHEs are MOST interesting! In this timeframe, it's anyone's guess as to who engraved these guns, but they are very closely identical in style and execution. The normally-rendered "flying turnip" birds are more swept-wing in these renditions, and the usually identifiable "clipped forehead" dogs of the Glahns or Joseph Loy are slightly more rounded and softer here.. Fascinating!

[David Noble]

Here is the auction 20 for comparison.

[Chris Travinski]

Chuck Bruner had a BHE 16ga. with the same engraving a few years back. I love the scene on the floor plate. I have seen similar side engraving on C grade guns too.

[Jim DiSpagno]

Besides the BHE for 19K, he also purchased:
lot 1026- Rem. 1984 CE 12 ga for $1,600.00
lot 1029 - Rem 1894 EEOO 16 ga. for $17,250.00
lot 1030- Rem 1894 CE 12 ga 32"bbls for $1,600.00
lot 1037- Rem 1894 CE 12ga 30"bbls for $1,000.00
lot 1058- Browning BSS 20 ga for $1,000.00
TOTAL $41,450.00 + 20% =$8,290.00 Grand total of $49,740.00 Plus shipping and Insurance and if an Ohio residence, applicable sales tax.
Sounds like a dealer to me.

[Dean Romig]

Now, the engraving on this and Craig's BHEs are MOST interesting! In this timeframe, it's anyone's guess as to who engraved these guns, but they are very closely identical in style and execution. The normally-rendered "flying turnip" birds are more swept-wing in these renditions, and the usually identifiable "clipped forehead" dogs of the Glahns or Joseph Loy are slightly more rounded and softer here.. Fascinating!

The Setter has that "bull's-eye" eyeball often seen on work most often attributed to Frederick Anschutz. Anschutz apprenticed under Gough in 1890 and became chief engraver in 1911 so it is not out of the realm of possibility that this may be Anschutz' work.

On second thought - after looking over the pictures posted above, I take it back and I'm not convinced that Anschutz might have engraved this BHE... and it could have been done by any of several engravers of that period. - See chart below:

1887 – 1898 – Serial No. Range from 52744 – 90307
Engraver – Henry “Harry” Gough from England by invitation of Charles A. King
Apprentice engraver – Edward E. Latham app’d under Gough during 1890’s
Apprentice engraver – John A. (Jack) Gough, Harry’s son
Apprentice engraver – William H. Gough, Harry’s son
Apprentice engraver – Joseph Loy (later engraved for Ithaca and Remington)
Apprentice engraver – Sim Rogers
Apprentice engraver – Edward Henion

1899 – 1911 – Serial No. Range from 90308 – 158495
Engraver – William H. Gough, Harry’s son

1911 – 1930 – Serial No. Range from 158496 – 235753
Engraver – Frederick W. Anschutz (began apprenticeship 1890 under H. Gough)

[Rich Anderson]

I believe the gun was produced in 1909. I also took a swing at it but missed. it would have gone well with the CHE Damascus 20 I have. Oh well I'm sure it will pop up somewhere again.

[David Noble]

Oh well I'm sure it will pop up somewhere again.

I gave it my best shot this time but had to drop out when it got to the point that my next bid would have been 20K. It would have been difficult to justify to the wife since I already have a BHE 20, but this one was just so beautiful.
Next time it comes available I bet it will be 30K plus.

[Dean Romig]

Next time it comes available I bet it will be 30K plus.



We just never know..... Remember the Fleischman twenty-gauge, two-barrel set A1-S :cool:

[David Noble]

Lot number 1026, was the first of I think four Remington CE grade doubles in the auction and was in my opinion the best of the bunch. The engraving on this gun was at least a grade above the others. I was prepared to make a play on this one but got tripped up during the bid process. It went from the pre auction bid amount ($1600) to "going twice" in like two seconds. I frantically hit the bid button, but alas, was too late.

[Phillip Carr]

David you and I must have been right there on the BHE 20 today. When it went went over 20k+ with the commission I saw pgcarr pop up for two seconds and then get out bid. I was prepared to sell a few of my guns to finance the purchase but I felt whom ever A-N was probably had deeper pockets.

[David Noble]

Yes Phil, A-n was bidding pre-auction and wouldn't let anyone be top bidder for long. He staked his claim early and made good on it. I don't think he lost any lot he was bidding on.
I applaud him on his tenacity. I too would have had to sell something if I had won the auction but I doubt I could have won anyway the way he was dominating the bids on the things he wanted.

[Rich Anderson]

I was on the phone bidding. I had a bid at 12K it went quickly to 14K then 19K and I was out. I didn't think it would go cheap but somebody wanted it badly. It is a very nice gun but now I have money for something else and there is always something else:)

[Dave Noreen]

Lot number 1026, was the first of I think four Remington CE grade doubles in the auction and was in my opinion the best of the bunch. The engraving on this gun was at least a grade above the others. I was prepared to make a play on this one but got tripped up during the bid process. It went from the pre auction bid amount ($1600) to "going twice" in like two seconds. I frantically hit the bid button, but alas, was too late.


Those pictures certainly look like a DEO-Grade Remington to these old eyes.

[Kevin McCormack]

We just never know..... Remember the Fleischman twenty-gauge, two-barrel set A1-S :cool:

Eeee..yeaahh! - Dean's definitely "in the pipe, 5 by 5" - The Fleischman A-1Special 2-bbl. set, SO close to my heart, endured a roller coaster ride in value over 5-7 years in no less than 3 major-major auctions. (Just pulled my photo set out again a little while ago to swoon) The variations in the final hammer prices of this iconic gun should Velcro us all to our computers where these online auctions are concerned. Nest time, I'm driving so I can be there LIVE!!!.

[Peter Clark]

Those pictures certainly look like a DEO-Grade Remington to these old eyes.

I agree with that observation. It appears to be an "O" for sure and I have not seen any C grades with animals engraved on them. According to Charlie Semmer's book the animals start with D. My family CEO has no animals and I believe that all the C grades seem to have somewhat unique engraving, i.e., no two are exactly alike (could be wrong here). Mine does not have the banner engraving that Mr. Semmer refers to as common on C grades and it has the Celtic motif in the corners attributed to J.Loy. -plc-