Makinson & Son .500 Nitro Express, Westley Richards drop lock action, ejectors, engraved, great bores, 11.2 pounds, 95 percent

Makinson & Son .500 Nitro Express double rifle. Created in the mid-to-late 1980s to showcase the extraordinary level of craftsmanship a client could expect from his fledgling Michigan/Canadian firm, Brit refugee Nick Makinson was determined to build bespoke firearms which equaled or bested those from the storied houses of London. Thirty or so Makinson firearms is generally accepted as the number produced, with some being double rifles. This particular example, serial 500P1, served as the functioning prototype. Based on a Westley Richards drop lock action with a full-length lower tang, it wears 24-inch barrels (.745-inch muzzle diameters, brass-beaded blade front sight, flip-up moon bead) highlighted by a quarter rib (hand-filed, fixed and folding express blades with gold sighting lines). Features include ejectors, manual tang safety and a manual trigger (selector under the bow). WOOD: Stocked in exhibition grade Turkish walnut with ideal directional grain, formalities include 26 lines-per-inch wrap checkering with partially Mullered borders, ebony-encircled latch, scalloped pancake with shadow line, Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad and an oil finish. ENGRAVING: Highlighted by a glowering black rhino in relief on the drop plate and a trio of scalloped ribbons flaring around the breech, wheels of intricate scroll support over the balance of the action and reappear on the latch, lever, guard and tangs to full coverage. Although worthy of brag, the work is sadly unsigned. DIMENSIONS: Weight is 11.4 pounds. Length-of-pull is 14.9 inches, drops are 1.4 and 1.8 inches, and cast off is approximately .40-inch. CONDITION: The bores and chambers are strong and bright. Barrels are on face and the opening lever rests slightly right of center. Ejectors kick stout and the trigger pulls smooth. Barrel finish (rust blue) is approximately 95 percent with minor indications of handling and one small area of roughness on barrel left at the rear sight. Receiver finish is approximately 95 percent with faint tarnish on the lower tang and cap. Tang screw slots are lightly buggered. Wood is approximately 97 percent. Regulation specifics are unknown. The price is firm and layaway is available. $32,500 plus shipping.