GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
LOVELY OLD JAMES PURDEY TOP LEVER HAMMER HEAVY GAME GUN. PURDEY HEAVY GAME 9101 10 BORE (1875) Cal. 10 Bore. 2-7/8" Chambers. 32" Fine Damascus bbls are engraved "J. Purdey 314-1/2 Oxford Street London" on narrow, concave game rib. Bbl flats are stamped with London black powder proofs for 10 bore and with SN. Lumps are fitted with early type bridled extractor. Bbl makers initials "EB" (Boulter ?) are in front of lump. Robust iron bar, top lever action is fitted with rebounding bar action locks with tall round bodied serpentine hammers having stylized dolphin heads. Fences are nicely filed. Action also features side clips. (This is a very early use of side clips, another of Purdey's unsung inventions?) Action and locks are engraved with exceptionally well cut small scroll, most likely the work of head engraver, James Lucas. "Purdey" is on each lockplate. "Patent" is on top lever. "Purdey's Patent" is on bottom of action. Head of hinge pin is engraved "2". Scroll engraved trigger guard has SN at grip. Dense, well streaked and nicely fiddle figured European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-3/8" over checkered wood butt. Flat top point pattern checkering with mullered borders is at grip. A vacant silver oval is on toe line. Matching splinter forend with metal tip is near fully checkered and attaches to bbl with side nail through shaped and engraved steel escutcheons. Very early appearance of actioner's initials: "A.P" (A. Phillips) are on iron. Bore diameter: left -.790, right -.790. Bore restrictions: left -.000, right -.000 (choke had recently been invented, and was not in wide use). Wall thickness: left -.034, right -.034. Drop at heel: 2-1/4", drop at comb: 1-1/2". Weight: 8 lbs 11 oz. LOP: 14-3/8". CONDITION: Fine. Bbls retain 30 - 40% what appears to be orig brown with further browning and freckling overall. Action and locks retain a considerable amount orig case hardening color where protected, but are mostly a pewter gray to light brown. Stocks retain most of what must be an old refinish, but is possibly orig, over some light marks, checkering lightly freshened. Bores are fine with scattered light pitting. Action is tight. Bbls are slightly off face. Locks are crisp. A neat old big bore Purdey made when bar in wood guns were the norm. 49940-16 MGM78 (9,000-13,000)