GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
VERY RARE JAMES PURDEY HAMMERLESS SIDELOCK EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE WITH CASE, SCOPE, AND AMMUNITION. PURDEY SXS DBL RIFLE 25145 .369 Purdey MODERN; IVORY Cal. .369 Purdey. Between 1880 and 2014 Purdey produced a total of 437 hammerless double rifles in all grades and calibers. This includes boxlock rifles and black powder express rifles. Many were made in Purdey''s proprietary calibers including 120 in .400 straight NE. Purdeys records indicate only 28 were produced in .369 Purdey. This particular rifle built ca. 1936 has 25" chopper lump bbls fitted with matted quarter rib, holding one standing and two folding leaf express rear sight, and milled for Purdey''s special scope mounts. Rifle is no. "1" of a pair, with "1" inlaid in gold on quarter rib, top lever, and forend tip. Sunken mid rib is engraved "J. Purdey & Sons. Audley House. South Audley Street. London. England." High front ramp is fitted with small "certifiable antique ivory" bead, and has slip-on sight protector. Bbl flats are stamped with London nitro proofs for .369 and for 61 grains of cordite and 270 grain bullet. SNs are stamped on bottoms of bbls, and bbl makers initials "SS" (Sam Simons) are on bottom of left bbl. Tube nos. "62915" and "62916" are on loop. A sling loop with large ovate base is soldered to bottom rib. Case hardened Beesley patent self-opening sidelock action is specially built for a rifle with heavy bolsters, side clips, and hidden third fastener. Automatic safety with SAFE inlaid in gold, has pivoting bolt with "BOLTED" inlaid in gold. Standard features include bushed strikers, raised rib tumbler end cocking indicators, and dbl triggers. Action and lockplates are engraved in typical House style rose and scroll. In this instance engraving is exceptionally well cut. "J. Purdey & Sons" is at the bottom of each lockplate, and also on bottom of action over "London" and "England". Trigger guard has large open scroll on bow, and SN on tang, which extends to engraved steel cap. Beautifully flamed/ fiddle figured, and nicely streaked European walnut capped pistol grip buttstock measures 14-3/4" over brown leather covered pad. Stock features typical Purdey beaded shadow line right hand cheekpiece, drop points, point pattern checkering at grip, and with sling loop matching that on bbl, and large gold oval on toe line engraved with a bull and horse either side of shield with sun in triangle, surmounted by knight''s helm and small crown, all over scroll with Sanskrit inscription. Matching splinter ejector forend has Anson release. Iron is stamped with actioners initials "FW" (Fred Williams). Zeiss 2-1/2 X Zielklein scope with three post reticle, is in Purdey see-through rings. Top rear is engraved with SN, top front with "Purdey & Sons London" and gold inlaid with "1". Front mount has windage adjustment. Scope is complete with its leather lens covers, and a hard leather case, gold embossed "N. A. K. 1". Drop at heel: approx 3", drop at comb: approx 1-7/8". Weight without scope: 9 lbs. 5 oz. LOP: 14-3/4". Relatively new high quality oak and leather case with leather corners and round central medallion is lined in burgundy cloth, and has small paper Purdey label in lid, as well as instruction label. Case contains 2-pc brass cleaning rod, with mop, brushes, and jag in covered compartment, Purdey marked square oil bottle, ebony handled chamber brush, ebony handled turnscrew, striker case with spare strikers and front sight, trumpet type cleaning funnel, and leather muzzle protector. Also included is an old rubber backed leather sling. All are in lift out top tray with space underneath containing 18 5-round boxes of Kynoch .369 Purdey cartridges in red and yellow boxes. PROVENANCE: Correspondence and invoice from H&H regarding re-blacking and regulating. CONDITION: Excellent, as partially refinished. Bbls retain essentially all of a London re-black. Action retains approx 40% orig case hardening color, fading and silvering from normal hand wear. Lockplates retain approx 90% of their orig color. Top lever is silvered at thumbpiece. Trigger guard retains approx 70% of its orig charcoal blue. Stocks retain nearly all of a light hand rubbed oil refinish, sharp edges slightly softened. This finish is over four or five light bumps and knocks. Bores are excellent with sharp, strong rifling throughout. Right bore has one or two minor pits about 6" in front of chamber. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are in time. Scope finish is beginning to brown and has considerable flecking. Optics are somewhat clouded, need cleaning. Case leather is excellent, as are straps and handle. Interior cloth is excellent, with a few minor rubs. Accessories are fine. Ammunition is fine, but with corrosive caps. 49958-27 MGM78 (40,000-60,000)