April 11-13, 2023 Firearms and Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/11/2023
Circa 1921. A vintage big game safari rifle with chopper lump 26" blacked steel nitro proof barrels. Barrels are built with extractors, side clip fitting, and matte quarter rib with 1 standing and 1 folding rear sight. Rib with extension for third fastener. Folding sight is marked for 200 yards. Both are fire blued and with platinum lines. Front sight is matted, stepped, and bladed with a steel tip. Right barrel reads "MADE OF SIR JOSEPH WHITWORTH'S FLUID-PRESSED STEEL". Left barrel reads "J. PURDEY & SONS AUDLEY HOUSE. SOUTH AUDLEY STREET, LONDON.". Bottom rib with loop for sling. Barrel bottoms stamped "22203" for serial number. Alongside lump is stamped "2728" and "2729" for tube numbers. Barrel flats are stamped "465EX", CORDITE 75--480MAX" and with appropriate proofs. The grey patina Jones underlever side lock action has been built with small James Purdey & Sons bolstered frame, side clips, third fastener, double triggers, cocking indicators, fire blued and checkered bolted safe, and fire blued checkered and scroll engraved slide safe. "SAFE" and "BOLTED" are in gold. Action is nicely engraved with rose and scroll and handsomely appointed with fire blued pins and screws. Jones underlever and trigger guard are blacked and scroll engraved. Deep brown European walnut stock with tiger striping is built with a beaded cheekpiece, tightly checkered pistol hand grip, blacked steel grip cap with scroll engraving and is marked "SPARE SIGHTS UNDER CAP", drop points, long bottom strap with scroll engraving, serial number "22203", loop for sling, vacant silver oval and is finished by a dark red/orange Silvers style recoil pad. This stock is a replacement completed by the Maker, Purdey. Splinter forend with matched checkering scroll engraved escutcheon and exterior iron metal. Checkered Anson push button release. Interior iron metal is blacked and engraved "22203" and with "J.T." for actioners initials Joe Thomson. Bottom action is engraved "J PURDEY & SONS LONDON". Rifle resides in the makers oak & leather case with brass corners, vacant brass medallion and canvas cover. The top of the lid is marked "J.A. Dawson", "A.F.W.G." and "D148". The underside of the top lid with maker's paper trade label. Case with cleaning tools and accessories including a leather cartridge wallet with 10 rounds of ammunition for the rifle and leather straps for the case. PROVENANCE: The makers have confirmed that the rifle was completed in 1921 for Major A.F.W. Gossage M.C. of the 17th Royal Lancers. The rifle was made for Major Gossage just before he began his posting to India. Retiring from the army in 1935. In 1921 Jock Dawson moved to Kenya with is family when he was 2 years old. In 1936 Major Gossage employed Jock as his farm manager and when he died in 1957, the farm and it's effects (including the rifle) were left to Jock. As a member of the Professional Hunters Association, Jock was one of only 12 people licensed to accompany those wishing to hunt Africa Big Game. During this time he had a number of notable clients and he continued in this capacity until hunting ceased in East Africa. He was an honorary game warden as well as a trustee of the Joy Adamson Trust and was heavily involved in the making of the film ' Born Free '. During the filming, when asked to stand close with the rifle just incase one of the lions attacked the actors, he purportedly replied "Do I shoot Bill Travers or the lion?" Jock Dawson was the the East Africa representative for Rhino Rescue, and also in charge of Rhino Rescue in Nakuru National Park. This is truly a great old rifle with an interesting history. INCLUDES: 4 Boxes of Kynoch Ammunition, with a total of 17 rounds of ammunition. CONDTITION: Very good as renovated. Barrels retain mostly all of their restored black and rifling is very good. Action and triggers are very good. Stock is very good as properly replaced. Forend is very good as refreshed. Very Nice Scarce Purdey Double Rifle.
Item Dimensions: Case: 31" x 13" x 5"
Accessories
Case, Ammunition, Snap Caps, Spare Strikers and Cleaning Equipment
Manufacturer
J. Purdey & Sons