October 30 - November 2, 2018 Firearms, Militaria, & Sporting
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2018
(1876) This small bore shotgun was converted from a double rifle (per Purdey letter) and has 25" dovetailed barrels engraved with Purdey's 314-1/2 Oxford Street address, on slightly raised flat rib. Rear sight dovetail has been plugged. Barrel flats are stamped with 1953 Birmingham nitro proofs for 2 - 1/2" chambers. It is not unusual for British double rifles to be converted in this manner, and they make up into good handling shotguns. Bottom of left barrel is engraved "Quality" but letter designation has been removed in polishing. The degree of finish on this gun is most likely of "E" quality, made in Birmingham and finished at Purdey's. Case hardened round bodied Jones under lever action is fitted with rebounding back spring peninsula locks with round bodied serpentine hammers having tall spurs. Action and locks are engraved with 50% coverage nicely cut shaded scroll. "Purdey" is on each lockplate. Hammers, underlever, and trigger guard are blued. Trigger guard tang extends to horn grip cap. Dense, well marbled, and lightly fiddle figured European walnut captive grip buttstock measures 14 - 1/4" over checkered wood butt. Point pattern checkering is at grip and a sling eye matching that soldered to bottom of barrels, and a vacant silver oval are on toe line. Matching splinter forend with shaped horn tip attaches to barrels with captive side bolt through oval steel escutcheons. CONDITION: Excellent, as completely refinished. Barrels retain nearly all of a high quality re-black. Action recolored, and retains approximately 95% of that color, with forend metal completely silvered and not recolored. Stocks have most of a newer oil finish over numerous marks and scratches. Checkering worn, and has not been re-cut. Action is tight. Barrels are on face. Locks are crisp. Gun is accompanied by correspondence and invoice from ex-Purdey gunsmith Alfred Gallifent for work performed on this gun in 2002, including re-laying of ribs and blacking barrels. MGM 97
Barrel Wall Thickness
Wicked thick
Choke
L .030 (full) R .025 (mod)
Internal Bore Diameter
L .544 R .544
Length of Pull
14 - 1/4" Neutral cast