BHE Damascus 20

[David Noble]

Here is the auction 20 for comparison.

[Chris T.]

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]

Originally Posted by 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!

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)

[C.O.B.]

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]

Originally Posted by Rich Anderson

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]

Originally Posted by David Noble

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

[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.

[Phil C]

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.