2067

EXCEPTIONALLY FINE PAIR OF JAMES PURDEY 2 GROOVE

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:6,000.00 USD Estimated At:12,000.00 - 14,000.00 USD
EXCEPTIONALLY FINE PAIR OF JAMES PURDEY 2 GROOVE
EXPRESS RIFLES CONVERTED FROM PERCUSSION TO JONES UNDERLEVER BREECH LOADERS W/ MAHOGANY CASE & MANY FINE ACCESSORIES. 1. S# 6533. 2. S# 6534. BOTH: cal. .500, 3" BPE. Regarding the Purdey "Express" rifle, J. H. Walsh (Stonehenge) relates "to possess one of which has been the object of most deer stalkers & rifle shots for many years." James Purdey the younger was the first to market these rifles & coined the name "Express Train" to describe his rifles of sm. caliber yet using a lg. powder charge resulting in high velocity & flat trajectory. In recent times, we have shortened the term to just "Express" pertaining to a lg. variety of British cartridges. The 2 groove muzzle loaders were quite popular w/ an estimated total of 250 rifles made between 1852 - 1870. These percussion rifles remained quite popular long after breech loaders came to the fore. Few of these rifles are found converted to the breech loading principle mostly because the 2 groove system & many of the rifles made for it did not convert well to available breech loading cartridges. Many of these rifles were produced in 32 bore as well as quite a few in 70 bore w/ other variations in between. The most popular caliber was the 40 bore & these did measure correctly for conversion to the 500-3" black powder cartridge. The 40 bore 2 groove rifle measures .490 bore diameter & .520 groove diameter which was acceptable for the .510 bullet used in the 500 cartridge. In addition, only the later 40 bore percussion rifles made for charges in excess of 3 drams had enough wall thickness in the breech area for conversion. This pair of rifles originally sold 30 June, 1863 were converted to central fire breech loading at a later date (probably circa 1875). Underlever actions were fabricated as well as new forends. Bbls., locks, trigger guards & buttstocks were retained. Patent breeches were removed from bbls. & new lumps were fitted. Hammers had heads reforged & shaped. These guns now retain 29 3/4" "best" 2 stripe damascus bbls engraved "J. Purdey. 314 1/2 Oxford St. London." on slightly raised flat ribs. Bbls. are fitted w/ 1 standing 3 nested folding express rear sights & silver bead fronts. Original black powder proofs are on bbls. w/ no reproof marks after conversion. London View proofs are on actions. Actions are nicely filed & engraved w/ well cut shaded scroll to match original engraving on lockplates. Frontspring non rebounding locks are fitted w/ front sliding stalking safeties. Well marbled & very nicely figured European walnut buttstocks measure 14 1/2" over original checkered steel buttplates which are engraved "Charge 3 1/4 drams" "No. 6 Powder". Original spurred trigger guards are retained as are scroll engraved hinged patchboxes on right sides. Matching splinter forends are attached to bbls. w/ captive sliding bolts through shaped & engraved steel escutcheons. Sling eyes are on bottoms of bbls. & toelines of stocks which also have sm. vacant silver ovals. MEASUREMENTS: DAC: 1 11/16". DAH: 2 9/16". Cast: Neutral. WEIGHT: 8 lbs. 9 oz. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: guns are housed in an old mahogany case w/ inlet brass corners & brass corner reinforcement. Case is lined in green cloth & has old Purdey label installed. Gun S#s are on tacked on ivory tags in each action opening. Case fits rifles very well & contains an ebony handled marked "James Purdey & Sons bullet mold " casting a .503 diameter conical bullet along w/ matching hollow pointing pin & a steel pin for rnd. nose bullets, a striker key, ebony case neck reamer, rosewood & steel powder funnel, case hardened steel mainspring vice, steel powder measure marked "89 P", handle of a 2 piece cleaning rod, octagonal steel oil bottle, pewter topped glass oil bottle, sm. rosewood bottle marked "1438", bone striker bottle & gutta percha patch bottle. In case, there is also a Buckland & Sons "Antique Arms & Armor" auction catalog dated Thursday 20th April 1961 in which these two guns are offered for sale as lots numbered 334 & 335. No mention is made of the case. CONDITION: exceptionally fine as refinished at time of conversion. Bbls. retaining 85-90% correct period rebrown w/ excellent definiton to pattern. Rifle S# 6533 w/ considerable loss on bottoms. Actions retain 60-70% original case hardening color, locks w/ a like amount of contemporary recolor done. Stocks retain about 80% oil refinish w/ numerous marks & light scratches commensurate w/ metal condition. Trigger guards retain most of a correct bright blue. Bores are fine to very fine, bright & shiny w/ some scattered light pitting toward breech end of right bbl. S# 6533. Somewhat less in right bbl. S# 6534. Case retains most of a renewed varnish finish, brass central medallion on lid is of later vintage. Renewed interior cloth is very good-fine w/ some rubs & light soiling. Old label has a number of rubs through & is tattered on right edge. Paper is foxed w/ light soiling & is glue soaked. Accessories are generally very good-fine. Purdey markings on mold are newly struck. (01-18193/MGM89). BOTH ANTIQUE. $12,000-14,000.