December 16, 17, & 18, 2025 Firearms & Militaria
Lot #1429:
(A) JAMES PURDEY SIDE BY SIDE 28 BORE HAMMER GUN.
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/16/2025
Circa 1879. Very tight 2 - 1/2" chambers. 29" Steel barrels are fitted with concave, swamped game rib engraved "J. PURDEY & SONS. LONDON". Barrel flats are stamped with London black powder proofs. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with SNs and "AM" (A. Meers, barrel maker). Loop is stamped "JP". Lumps are fitted with early style bridled extractor. Round bodied, Jones underlever snap action is fitted with peninsula back action locks fitted with rebounding short serpentine round bodied hammers with stylized dolphin heads. Locks are also fitted with front sliding safeties, typical of rifles. Action also features side clips, third fastener which engages rear lump, and double triggers (front articulated). Action is engraved in Purdey house style miniscule scroll with rose bouquet highlights, as originated by and most likely in this case, done by, head engraver James Lucas. Blued trigger guard with SN at grip, extends to steel capped pistol grip in rifle fashion. Finely marbled and figured European walnut steel capped pistol grip buttstock measures 14 - 1/4" over steel skeleton type buttplate with rubber insert at center. Flat top point pattern checkering is at grip. A vacant silver oval is on toe line. Matching splinter forend has Anson release. High quality russet leather and oak case with brass corners is lined in green cloth, and has gold embossed Purdey label in lid. Case is nicely fitted for gun and barrels and contains a pair of snap caps and a square oil bottle. CONDITION: Excellent, as refurbished. Barrels retain nearly all of an old re-black, possibly done at time of conversion to shotgun, with heavy freckling and surface scale. Action and locks retain over 80% of what appears to be original case hardening color, under an old over varnish (which is rather gummy so actual percentage difficult to ascertain). Stocks retain most of what appears to be their original finish, but is most likely an old refinish with some light marks, some fairly deep. Checkering is lightly worn. Bores are excellent, slightly riveled, with some striations and reamer marks. Action is tight. Locks are crisp. Safeties work. Case is excellent, with some rubs and scuffs in exterior leather. Straps and handle are good. Interior cloth is excellent. Accessories are excellent.
Item Dimensions: 32" x 12" x 4"
Barrel Wall Thickness
(L) .023 (R) .022
Internal Bore Diameter
(L) .542 (R) .541