Montrose’s March 14 Live Firearms Auction features fine sporting, classic and collectible firearms built by the world’s finest gunmakers

Featured: Pair of Boss & Co sidelock ejector SXS 12-gauge shotguns, Browning Trombone pump-action Grade 3 slide rifle, Beretta 687EELL over/under 12-gauge shotgun, pair of J Purdey & Sons shotguns
 
GREENSBORO, Ga. – Spring is for sportsmen, and while parts of the country are still dealing with snow, ice and freezing temperatures, Montrose Auction is looking to warm things up with a Live Firearms Auction on Saturday, March 14.  
 
The auction offers a fine selection of sporting, classic and collectible firearms built by the world’s top gunmakers. The lineup boasts high quality and excellent condition in each of its more than 600 lots. These include premium-level vintage firearms for collection and display, as well as precision-made hunting guns for practical use.
 
The live gallery event in Greensboro, Georgia – located midway between Atlanta and Augusta – can be easily accessed via three major interstates, but for those unable to attend in person, all forms of remote bidding will also be available, including absentee, by phone, or live online through the Montrose website and Proxibid.com.
 
Leading the charge is a pair of Boss & Co sidelock ejector SXS 12-gauge shotguns, both mechanically excellent and offered together as one lot. The 12-bore weapons boast new barrels by John Dickson, 9-pin rose and scroll side locks with chocking indicators, and single trigger with ejectors. Both are in very fine condition, as refreshed with new barrels and crisp engravings and legends on the locks. They’re housed in an oak and leather trunk case, with #2 inlaid in gold at the breech, top lever and forend tip. The estimate is $14,000-$18,000.
 
A Browning Trombone pump-action Grade 3 slide rifle – chambered in .22 Short, Long and Long Rifle (sllr) – is expected to hit the mark at $5,500-$7,500. The rifle has an adjustable rear sight and a fixed-blade front sight with grooved receiver. The right side features vine-and-scroll engraving with vignettes of a fox and pheasant; and an additional game scene depicts a hound in action. It has an engraved trigger guard and steel butt plate, and the underside of the receiver is marked “35 of 60.” An attractive canvas and leather carrying case is included.
 
A Beretta 687EELL over/under 12-gauge shotgun features 3-inch chambers with a ventilated top rib and a single-bead front sight. The checkered walnut pistol-grip stock shows an attractive figure and blank oval initial inset at the toe line. The shotgun, with side-plated boxlock action, is profusely engraved, including an artist-signed engraving near the trigger guard. The upper tang is marked “Diamond Pigeon.” The weapon is in as-new overall condition, and the metal surfaces display as new. It’s contained in a factory box numbered to the gun. The estimate is $5,500-$6,500.
 
Good things come in pairs, and bidders are certain to be keen on the pair of J Purdey & Sons self-opening sidelock ejector SXS 12-gage shotguns being offered as one lot. Manufactured in 1898, the rifles feature fine Damascus-patterned barrels with case-colored Rose & Scroll engraved side locks. They’re marked "1" on the blued top lever, with Treble grip action. The condition of these desirable antique weapons is very fine, with each exhibiting brilliant bright bores and very fine stocks with sharp checkering. The pair should command $5,500-$6,500.
 
A Browning SA-22 Grade 3 semi rifle .22lr, made in Japan in 1957, with stain nickel engraved receiver, engraver-signed M Magis, with fancy wood, carries a pre-sale estimate of $4,500-$7,500. The weapon has a folding rear sight and fixed blade front sight, and a skip-checkered walnut pistol-grip stock with attractive figure. It’s relief-engraved, with a signed receiver featuring scenes of a hound and fowl. This firearm is noted as a transitional example, with a Belgian-engraved receiver finished in Japan. It is graded in excellent plus overall condition and includes a factory box numbered to the gun.
 
A Browning SA-22 Grade 2 semi rifle .22lr, manufactured in Belgium in 1971, features a satin nickel engraved receiver, deep checkering on fancy wood and a checkered walnut pistol-grip stock. It has a folding rear sight and a fixed blade front sight. The Grade 2 engraved receiver shows game scene vignettes. The barrel is marked “Browning Arms Company, Morgan, Utah & Montreal, P.Q.; Made in Belgium; Browning Patents.” The firearm is in excellent plus overall condition, with only a few light handling marks, and is expected to change hands for $1,500-$2,500.
 
A Browning Trombone slide rifle .22sllr, manufactured in Belgium pre-1956, has an adjustable rear sight and a fixed blade front sight, plus a tube-fed magazine. The semi-pistol-grip stock features a rounded knob and the barrel is marked “Fabrique Nationale d’Armes; Browning’s Patent Déposé.” The rifle is in excellent plus overall condition, with minimal light handling marks, and should realize $1,200-$1,800.