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Johann Michelitsch, Ferlach Master Gunmaker, Hand-detachable Sidelocks, O/U 28 Ga, 2 3/4" 28 Bls, Exc. Plus Guns International #: 101783376 Seller's Inventory #: Category: Shotguns - Austrian Double - Shotguns - 28 Gauge Seller's Information When emailing or calling sellers direct, please mention that you saw their listing on GunsInternational.com Seller: rcrwin70 Member Since: 9/26/07 First Name: Roger State: Hawaii Country: United States Platinum Seller Number of Active Listings: 0 Seller: Private Seller Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns. 3 days Payment Types Accepted: cashiers check or money order or pay pal plus 3% Description: SOLD  ** Johann Michelitsch, Ferlach Master Gunmaker, Hand-Detachable Sidelocks, O/U, 28 Ga. 2 ¾”, 28” Bls.  Exc. Plus This “best gun” features 28” Demi-bloc ejector barrels with raised ventilated matted rib, engraved “Made in Austria.” The breech portion of bottom metal is stamped with 1958 Ferlach proofs, serial number, and the Michelitsch logo. It has coin finished hand-detachable sidelocks.  The action locks up with Purdey double underbites and with a third top action lock via a full Kersten cross bolt. Features include a non-automatic safety, bushed strikers and reinforcing bolsters. The single selective trigger clearly shows “O” for over barrel and “U” for under barrel, both in gold, along with a gold “S” for the manual safety. One combination button on the tang handles all four of these movements which wouldn’t even be attempted by most makers. It also has cocking indicators that are fire blued with inlaid gold arrows. The left sidelock carries the concealed trap door that actually functions as a bolt when opened and turned. The fitting is so close that under the engraving, it is hard to detect. All of these features clearly define a “best gun.” The receiver and sidelocks are engraved with various sizes of well-cut, shaded scroll framing vignettes of game birds on each side. A quatro of ducks cavort in a marsh on left side and four pheasants are in various poses in an open woodland on the right. Bottom of the action is engraved, “JOH. MICHELITSCH FERLACH AUSTRIA MOD.25E on a long ribbon through scroll. Top lever and trigger guard are scroll-engraved and blued. The stock has modest flame-figure of marbled European walnut with a pistol grip that is capped with horn in a sunburst carving. The buttstock is shaped with a classic comb and furnished with a horn buttplate carved with a basket-weave pattern. Stock measurements are 14 ½” x 1 3/8” x 1 3/4” with slight cast off for the right handed shooter. The well-executed hand checkering is point pattern with broad mullered borders at the grip. Its matching three-piece forend has a Deeley type release with tight inlayed points. Bore diameters, top .543, bottom .542 (Full and Full) restrictions. Weight 7 lb. 2 oz. Condition: Excellent Plus: Bbls retain 99% original blue; action retains nearly all its original French gray, Stocks retains 96% of its original finish with a few faint marks, bores are bright. Ejectors are strong and in time. Trigger works perfectly. All best shotguns by any of these Ferlach masters begin at $25,000.  The sidelock versions and especially the hand-detachable sidelock versions, sell for much more. The Model 25E was last listed for the U.S. dollar equivalent of $31,450.  At 99%, the value would drop to about $24,900.  Priced here to sell at $ 11,450.00 Seller is the author of The Rifleman’s Rifle (Winchester pre-64 Model 70s) and will furnish a Letter of Provenance that this gun is from his collection.  Please check out author’s feedback on ebay under rcrwin70roger.  3-day non-firing inspection for full refund, shipping is $75 to buyer’s FFL, payment by MO, certified check , wire transfer or personal check on-hold pending validation. For questions, call (808) 989-1863 and ask for Roger. About the maker: Johann Michelitsch 12 November Strasse 2 A9107 Ferlach, Austria Tel (04227) 2391, Fax 2868. Today, there are twelve master gun makers in Ferlach, who along with their 180 employees, produce about 500 guns a year. The size of the business of each of the master gunmakers varies greatly. Some are a father and son operation, most have around six to ten employees, with the largest having over 150 employees. The prices of a Ferlach gun start at $25,000 and go up to $500,000. Each part of the gun is carefully and lovingly hand fitted to produce a superb firearm that is often embellished with delicate engraving and inlaid with gold or silver. The average gun produced by the Ferlach gun makers cost $50,000 – $75,000 and takes six to ten months to produce. Many of their guns can be found in museums and private collections around the world. Royalty and presidents from many different countries are proud owners of Ferlach guns. Hunters and collectors, who desire the best, come from all over the world to the town of Ferlach to order their custom made guns. Here’s the twelve Ferlach makers in alpha order (all of them are master gunmakers): Ludwig Borovnik KG Bahnhofstrasse 7 A9107 Ferlach, Austria Tel (04227) 2442, 2249, Fax 4349 Fanzoj Gesellschaft m. b. H. Aka Johann Fanzoj Griesgasse 1 A9107 Ferlach, Austria Tel (04227) 2283, Fax 2867 Hambrusch Jagdwaffen Gesellschaft m. b. H. Gartengasse 4 A9107 Ferlach, Austria Tel (04227) 2262, Fax 4106 Karl Hauptmann Bahnhofstrasse 5 A9107 Ferlach, Austria Tel (04227) 2263, Fax3435 Peter Hofer Jagdwaffen Franz-Lang-Strasse 13 A9107 Ferlach, Austria Tel (04227) 3683, Fax 3683 Jagdwaffen G. Juch Inh. Mag. H. Grund Pfarrhofgasse 2 A9107 Ferlach, Austria Tel (04227) 2256, Fax 2256 Josef Just Hauptplaz 18A9107 Ferlach, Austria Tel (04227) 2273, Fax 4284 Jakob Koschat 12 November Strasse 3 A9107 Ferlach, Austria Tel (04227) 2390, Fax 2278 Johann Michelitsch 12 November Strasse 2 A9107 Ferlach, Austria Tel (04227) 2391, Fax 2868 Johann Outschar’s Sohn Inh. Walter Schaschl-Outschar Josef-Ogris-Gasse 23 A9107 Ferlach, Austria Herbert Scheiring Klagenfurter Strasse 19 A9107 Ferlach, Austria Tel (04227) 2876, Fax 2876   SOLD