April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/24/2019
(1899) This rare little gun has 27" chopper lump barrels engraved "J. Purdey & Sons. Audley House. South Audley Street. London. England." on narrow, swamped game rib. Barrel flats are stamped with London nitro re-proofs for 28 gauge, 3" chambers. Bottoms of barrels are stamped with serial numbers and barrel makers initials "AH" (Alf Harvey). Tube numbers "65357" and "65358" are on loop (ca 1937). Case hardened small sized self-opening sidelock action features automatic safety made with large safety button (SAFE inlaid in gold), bushed strikers, engraved arrow tumbler head cocking indicators, and double triggers. Action and lockplates are engraved with unusual, undoubtedly special ordered, near full coverage varying sized well cut shaded scroll. "J. Purdey & Sons" is on each lockplates. "Purdey's" "Patent" is on bottom of action. Fences are relief carved with large open scrolling acanthus having floral highlights. A treatment seldom found. Blued trigger guard is engraved with shaded scroll matching action instead of the usual open scroll. Serial number is on tang. Attractive very nicely marbled and somewhat burl figured European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14 - 3/4" over checkered wood butt. Stock features classic drop points, point pattern checkering at grip, and a vacant silver oval on toe line. Matching splinter ejector forend has Anson release and actioners initials "GH" (unknown). CONDITION: Excellent, as most likely factory reconditioned. Newer barrels retain nearly all of a best London re-black most likely applied at time of re-proof. Action was most likely recolored at that time, as well, or possibly at time of fitting of newer barrels, and retains approximately 40% of its color. Lockplates retain over 90% of their color. Renewed blue of top lever and trigger guard is very lightly worn. Newer stocks of factory quality are excellent, and retain nearly all of their hand rubbed oil finish. Bores are excellent. Action is tight. Barrels are on face. Ejectors are very slightly out of time. A truly lovely little lightweight Purdey. MGM206. CORRECTION: We have been in contact with the maker who has kindly confirmed that this gun was originally built as a 32-bore in 1899, and rebarrelled by Purdeys in 1955 in to a 28ga gun and sold by them that same year. We wish to extend our thanks to the maker for sharing this information with us.
Barrel Wall Thickness
(L) .030 (R) .030
Choke
(L) .032 (Full) (R) .005 (Improved Cylinder)
Internal Bore Diameter
(L) .552 (R) .551
Length of Pull
14 - 3/4" cast 1/4" off