SKB Arms Co Royal Deluxe Engraved 28″ Full/IC 12 GA SXS Shotgun 1960-61 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1400
LSB#: 211006MW08
Make: SKB Arms Co.
Model: Royal Deluxe
Serial Number: D120453
Year of Manufacture: 1960-1961
Gauge: 12 Gauge, 2 ¾” Shells
Action Type: Top-Break Side by Side with Dual Triggers and Extractor
Markings: The top of the rib is marked “MANUFACTURED BY SKB ARMS CO. JAPAN”. Each barrel flat is marked “12” in diamond, “2 3/4” and “NP”, the left is marked “FULL”, the right “IMP”. The forend lug is marked “D120453”. The inside of the forend iron is marked “120453”. The left of the water table is marked “D120453”, the right is marked “SKB ROYAL / DELUXE / 62224M00299”. The guard is marked “120453”. The receiver has relief foliate scroll engraving which continues on the trigger plate, guard, lever, the exposed portion of the forend and the chamber-end of the barrels.
Barrel Length: 28”
Choke: Left: Full, Right: Improved Cylinder, both Fixed.
Sights / Optics: There is a silver-colored bead at the front of the solid, concave rib.
Weight: 6 lb., 11.1 oz.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered walnut with beavertail forend, horn-capped pistol grip, straight comb, ventilated black rubber Pachmayr White Line recoil pad and a silver initial plate inlaid in the belly. The stocks have light handling wear with a few minor nicks, scuffs and scratches. The wrist has a couple of hair-line cracks on the left-front edge. There are no chips. The checkering is well defined. The LOP measures 14 7/8″ and 14″ from the fronts of the triggers to the back of the recoil pad, 13 3/4″ and 12 7/8″ to the back of the wood. Drop at comb is approximately 1 1/2″, drop at heel 2 5/8″. The pad has light wear with some cracking around the edges and in the vents, but remains fairly supple. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blue & Silver
Finish Originality: The receiver’s finish is Original, the barrels have been refinished.
Bore Condition: The bores are mostly bright. There is no erosion, but there is some stubborn fouling.
Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 85% of its current metal finish. Most of the balance is in scattered light finish wear on the barrels, most notable over the forend on each side. There is also wear under the forend from assembly and disassembly, concealed when assembled. There is some light erosion on the muzzles. The worn areas show some minor surface oxidation and there are a few light nicks and scuffs. The bottom tang is mostly worn to white, but the trigger guard retains generally strong finish. The receiver retains generally strong finish with only a few light marks. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots, some are no longer timed correctly. The pin heads are tool marked, but not peened. The markings are generally clear, the exposed barrel markings and engraving have soft edges. Overall, this shotgun rates in about Very Good condition as partially refinished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The barrels lock up with minor play to the receiver. The safety engages automatically when the action is opened. We have not fired this shotgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment: While Japan may not be the first country to come to mind when one thinks of nations with a long firearms making history, the island nation was first exposed to guns in 1548 when Portuguese explorers first landed. A man by the name of Shigyo Sakaba would work his way up from apprentice to gunsmith in a factory owned by the Mito clan. While this would mostly be a small firm which produced exclusively for the Mito clan, it was well respected for the quality of its products and in the 1960s it modernized and began producing shotguns for the international market as SKB Arms co, taking its name from SaKaBa. To this day, they continue to make a line of sporting shotguns which is respected for its fine quality. This example is a very nice Japanese-made side by side shotgun from the 1960s, early in SKBs international production. The Ithaca SKB Royal Deluxe is a beautiful gun with quality hand engraving, and this is a nice example with a silver finished frame and a non-standard engraving pattern. This example looks like it has served its previous owners well in the field, showing wear consistent with use as a hunting gun. The barrels have been refinished, so it still looks nice and the bores are still in good shape. This early example of an SKB side-by-side will make a nice addition to a collection but should also still prove to be a great field gun. Please see our photos and good luck!