GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
VERY EARLY PURDEY CENTER-FIRE HAMMER GUN WITH VESTIGIAL PIN-FIRE HAMMERS AND SCARCE PATENT RETRACTABLE FIRING PINS WITH ORIGINAL CASE AND SOME ACCESSORIES. PURDEY HAMMER SXS 7244 12 GA (1866) Cal. 12 ga. 2-3/4" Chambers. 30" Broad patterned Damascus bbls are engraved "J. Purdey. 314-1/2 Oxford Street, London" on narrow concave game rib. Bbl flats are stamped with 2005 London nitro re-proofs for 2-3/4" chambers. Round bodied action with Jones underlever bolt, is fitted with peninsula back locks having tall breast fire serpentine hammers with vestigial pin-fire heads. Breech and locks incorporate Purdey''s 1865 patent no. 424 for retractable center firing pins. Locks are re-bounding. Fences are nicely carved in serpentine manner, which extends into reinforcing bolsters at bottoms. Action and locks are engraved with very finely cut small scroll. "Purdey" is on each lockplate. "Patent" is on top of action. Nicely marbled and figured European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-1/4" over steel buttplate. Stock features standard checkering, and a vacant silver oval on toe line. Matching splinter forend is near fully checkered, has shaped steel tip, and attaches to bbls with captive side nail through shaped and engraved steel escutcheons. (It appears that this gun was originally built with long guard lever action, and was returned to the factory to be fitted with rebounding locks (patented in 1869) and typical Jones lever over guard.) Bore diameter: left - .737, right -.737. Bore restrictions: left -.000 (cyl), right -.000 (cyl) (Gun was made before choke was invented.) Wall thickness: left -.030, right -.029. Drop at heel: 2-1/4", drop at comb: 1-7/16". Weight: 7 lbs. 0 oz. LOP: 14-1/4". Orig makers oak case with inset circular D-ring handle and pivoting hook closure, is lined in what was once scarlet cloth, and has blue and white paper Purdey Oxford Street label in lid. Label is inscribed with loading data in India ink. A small circular paper dot on bottom edge of lid is inscribed with SN in early Purdey manner. Case contains 3-pc brass and rosewood cleaning rod, and a walnut handled powder measure. CONDITION: Good. Bbls retain nearly all of a well done London re-brown, dating from time of re-proof. Definition of Damascus pattern is good. Action and lockplates retain traces of orig color where protected, but are mostly silver gray. Stocks retain a considerable amount of what appears to be their orig finish with numerous light marks and some deeper scratches and bumps, showing considerable hand wear of checkering at grip and on forend. Bores are excellent. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Locks are crisp. Case retains most of its orig varnish on exterior, which does show some cracks and old repairs. Interior cloth is good with rubs and marks and some well done repairs to partitions. Label is considerably foxed with some areas worn through, and some soiling. A very unusual Purdey variant. Guns of this type were made for a very short time between 1865 and 1867. 49940-2 MGM42 (7,000-12,000)