October 30 - November 2, 2018 Firearms, Militaria, & Sporting
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2018
(1896) In order to capture a larger market share in the late 1870's, Purdeys began marketing guns of other than "best" quality. Most were purchased "in the white" from the trade and finished at Purdeys. These guns were plainly marked on the water table with Purdeys four bullet trademark and their quality letter (A through E). This single barrel hammer gun was pictured in the 1885 catalog as a "youth's single gun". Examples are quite rare. It has 29 - 1/2" barrel with nock form at breech end. Top is engraved with Purdey's Audley House address. Bottom of barrel is stamped with London black powder proofs and Birmingham nitro re-proofs for 2 - 1/2" chamber. Rounded top lever action is engraved with sprays of scroll. Back spring, island lock with serpentine rebounding hammer is engraved to match and with "J. Purdey & Sons". Matching trigger guard has serial number on tang. Nicely streaked and lightly figured European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14 - 5/8" over checkered wood butt over 2 - 1/2" finely painted in lengthening piece, and has standard point pattern checkering at grip and vacant silver oval on bottom. Matching splinter forend with horn tip has Anson release. CONDITION: Good. Barrel retains most of an old re-black. Action and locks cleaned to silver gray with some scratches. Engraving softened. Stocks retain most of an old oil refinish applied at time of lengthening piece. Checkering has not been re-cut. Bore is excellent. Action is tight. Lock is excellent. MGM 148
Barrel Wall Thickness
.040
Internal Bore Diameter
.666