October 30 - November 2, 2018 Firearms, Militaria, & Sporting
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2018
(1866) The earliest Purdey guns made on their under bolt snap action patent opened by under levers accessed through a hole in trigger guard bow. This example features 30" fine Damascus barrels engraved "2" on narrow, concave game rib. Barrel flats are stamped with London black powder proofs and Birmingham nitro re-proofs for 2 - 1/2" chambers, along with Purdey's four bullet trademark. Serial numbers with B suffix are stamped on bottoms of barrels. Round bodied action with long first model under lever is fitted with peninsula back spring locks with round bodied serpentine hammers having vestigial pinfire type heads. This early centerfire gun has firing pins retracted from case heads by sliding links, actuated by slots in backs of hammers. Hammers have pads filed into front edges striking these links to fire cartridge. This firing mechanism was protected by Purdey's patent number 424 of 1865. (A similar example no. 7202 with Jones underlever is illustrated on page 186 of JAMES PURDEY AND SONS TWO HUNDRED YEARS OF EXCELLENCE by Donald Dallas.) Action and locks are engraved with 60% coverage well cut shaded scroll. Top of action is engraved "PATENT". "Purdey" is on each lockplate. Remnants of serial number are on trigger guard bow. Well marbled European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14" over steel buttplate. Standard point pattern checkering is at grip, and a silver oval engraved with a rampant lion stomping on a crown, is on toe line. Matching splinter fully checkered forend with "2" engraved on tip, attaches to barrels with sliding side bolt through shaped and engraved steel escutcheons. CONDITION: Good. Barrels retain most of an old re-brown. Action is gray to brown, lightly frosted in spots with some scattered pitting. Trigger guard tang heavily pitted. Stocks have most of an oil refinish. Checkering re-cut. Bores are fine, shiny, cleaned over scattered pitting. Locks are excellent. Action is tight. An interesting early Purdey centerfire. MGM 146
Barrel Wall Thickness
L .030 R .024
Choke
L .025 (Mod) R .025 (Mod)
Internal Bore Diameter
L .732 R .733