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E.J. Churchill 20g The Premiere Model XXV SLE with Game Scene Engraving by Harry Kell

Serial number 4812 was built about 1932 with highly detailed game scene engraving. The Left lock plate features three cock pheasants in flight over the treetops, the right side features a wooded scene showing a flushing rooster, one looking back over his left shoulder and a hen nested in the grass. On the bottom of the action are two cock pheasants taking flight against a wooded scene and, finally, a rooster pheasant sits perched on the top lever and is inlaid in gold. The balance of the action features expertly engraved small English scroll and the Maker’s name in flowing banners on the legs of the lock plates.  The word “SAFE” and “The Premiere Model”, found on the trigger plate, are also inlaid in gold. The gun was built on a pinless, Baker patent, easy-opening sidelock with an automatic safety, a double rolled guard bow and currently fitted with a Miller single/selective trigger, but still retains the original two triggers and interceptors in the case (wrapped in an envelope from San Francisco and post marked 1948). 

The gun is stocked to the fences in very nicely figured European walnut with a 14 3/8” LOP over the original thin, serrated horn butt plate. The stock also has traditional drop points and point pattern checkering with Mullered borders. The splinter forend is fitted with an Anson pushrod release.

The 25” chopper lump barrels have a Churchill rib, large white bead and a middle orange bead. Originally proofed for 7/8 oz load, the gun now has 2 ¾" chambers. The barrels remain in beautiful condition with perfect bores, both measure .616” and .004” choke in the right and .010” in the left. The barrels are engraved: “E.J. Churchill (Gunmakers” Ltd.” on top of the right barrel and “Orange St. Gunworks, Leicester Square, London” on top of the left barrel. “XXV” is inlaid in gold on the top rib and two very well-cut wedges of small traditional scroll are engraved over the breeches.

Finally, the gun is complete in its original lightweight leather “VC” gun case with original Maker’s celluloid trade labels for the gun and case. On the lid of the case is “Grant Pierce” embossed in gold letters and “20g Pheasant Gun” on the bottom right corner of the lid. The case also includes two-piece cleaning rod, Churchill accoutrements and an original hang tag from Abercrombie & Fitch listing the gun’s particulars from when it must have been offered for sale when that company was still an outfitter.

The gun weighs 5 lbs. 6 oz.

Overall, the gun remains excellent with much of the original black on the barrels, strong traces of case colors on the action the original hand-rubbed oil finish showing the marks and abrasions consistent with a gun of this age. The barrels remain tight on face and are dent and bulge free. The stock does not show any cracks or repairs and the ejectors and trigger are all in working order.

A lovely gun for the walk-up shooter and an exceptionally rare example of a Churchill XXV, as 20g are rarely encountered and game scene engraved guns are virtually non-existent.

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