Another new segment here at the blog, in the past I have made posts with "gun porn" where I have a picture or two of each gun, in these series of posts we will feature one firearm, tell its story (as best as we can) and show as many pictures as are available.

Engraving isn't what it used to be, with technology we now have laser engravers that can do a pretty good job of replicating hand engraving. We won't be covering any of those here, these guns will be the works of artists, not a computer.

This gun is part of the Robert E. Peterson collection donated to the NRA's National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Virginia.

Peterson was born and raised in California, after serving WWII he worked for MGM as a publicist, which led him to publicize the new sport of hot rodding and in 1948 introduced Hot Rod Magazine. He went on to introduce dozens of other periodicals including Guns and Ammo. Guns were another of Peterson's passions and the wealth brought to him by his publishing empire he could afford the best of the best.

When this double rifle was purchased the 600 Nitro Express was the most powerful rifle in the world. A title it held from its introduction in 1899 until 1988 when a collector commissioned the first 700 Nitro Express. How powerful you ask, try a 900-grain bullet moving a touch over 2000 feet per second, with 8,400 lbft of muzzle energy. Compare that to a 180grain 308 Winchester with 2,588 lb ft of energy.

In doing my research I could not ascertain if this rifle was commissioned by Peterson or if it was a gift. I would have to imagine that Peterson himself commissioned the rifle and its engraving as the expense is more than the uber rich would be comfortable giving away.

The gun was engraved by Philippe Grifnee, a Belgian artisan considered to be one of the best firearms engravers to have ever lived.

Pictures courtesy of the NRA Museum