GUN SPRING 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.
AN INCREDIBLE FIND, THE FIRST WOODWARDS MADE AFTER PURDEY'S RESURRECTED THIS FAMOUS BRAND; A PAIR OF 20 GAUGE SIDELOCK EJECTOR SINGLE TRIGGER OVER-UNDER GAME SHOTGUNS WITH CASE.WOODWARDOU7185/718620CASED PAIRMODERN; C&RCal. 20 ga. 2-3/4" Chambers. Purdey's bought the Woodward name and patents in June 1948 and builds their OU guns to this patent. No "Woodward's" were made until 1997 when these two guns were produced. They have 28" demi-bloc bbls fitted with Teague chokes, and with solid matted ribs gold inlaid "1" and "2" on breech ends denoting a true pair. ("1" and "2" also appear on top levers and forend tips.) Left sides of top bbls are engraved "J. Woodward & Sons" and with Purdey's famous Audley House South Audley Street London address. Bbl flats are stamped with 1995 London nitro proofs for 2-3/4" chambers, and with SNs. Case hardened low profile OU actions with automatic safeties (made in classic Woodward T-shape) and gold-plated single triggers, follow traditional Woodward styling with slight reinforce to action bars, and usual house style Woodward engraving consisting of 80% coverage sprays of well cut scroll around circular rose bouquets on lockplates which are also engraved "J. Woodward & Sons" in classic Woodward parchment scroll flanked devices. Bottoms of actions are engraved "Woodward's" "PATENT" "Under & Over". Blued trigger guards with scroll on bows have SNs in shaded fields on tangs which extend to horn grip caps. Stocks also recreate Woodward style with long sweeping "Prince of Wales" grips and sloping rise to combs. Stocks are of nicely matched, well veined and somewhat fiddle figured European walnut, and measure 15-3/4" over checkered wood butts. Matching small one piece forends have Anson releases. Ejector work is gold-plated. Gun "1": Bore diameter: top -.613, bottom - .613. Bore restrictions: Teague screw chokes. Wall thickness: top - .031, bottom - .032. Drop at heel: 2-1/8", drop at comb: 1-1/2". Cast: approx 1/2 off. Weight: 6 lbs. 9 oz. LOP: 15-3/4". Gun "2": Bore diameter: top -.613, bottom - .613. Bore restrictions: Teague screw chokes. Wall thickness: top - .032, bottom - .029. Drop at heel: 2-3/16", drop at comb: 1-1/2". Cast: approx 1/2 off. Weight: 6 lbs. 9 oz. LOP: 15-3/4". High quality leather case with stitched leather corners is lined in burgundy cloth, and has gold embossed black leather Woodward Audley House label in lid. CONDITION: Excellent with evidence of some field use. Bbls have silvering at muzzles and sharp edges, with a few light dings along edges of ribs, consistent with being run in and out of full length field carrying cases. Actions are somewhat silvered on beads with color thinning a bit around bottoms. Trigger guards silvered on edges. Stocks show scattered light marks and scratches in their orig finishes, with considerable ring marks and other scratches on forends, with finish wearing thin. This is most evident on gun "2". Bores are excellent. Mechanically excellent. Case leather shows only a scattering of light marks, and a few rubs. Straps and handle remain strong. Interior cloth is excellent, as is label. 53052-5 mgm125 (60,000-80,000)