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PHENOMENAL JAMES PURDEY 16 BORE DOUBLE

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 9,000.00 USD
PHENOMENAL JAMES PURDEY 16 BORE DOUBLE
PERCUSSION SHOTGUN WITH CASE AND ACCESSORIES INCLUDING VERY RARE PATENT DENTED WAD PUNCH AND WADS. Cal. 16 Bore. S# 1866 (1829). Purdey records indicate that this shotgun is a 16 bore double with 30" barrels, sold on Oct. 1829 in conjunction with gun number 1837 for a total of 100 pounds. At the time the standard price for a double gun was 55 pounds. Records also indicate "New barrels fitted in March 1831" (info from Appendix 3 "The Early Purdeys"). The 30" two stripe Damascus barrels are fitted with raised game rib engraved "J. Purdey 314 1/2" Oxford Street. London." Bottoms of barrels are stamped with S#'s, London black powder proofs and the number "3". Bottom of left barrel is stamped "46". Breech plugs with vented platinum blow outs have platinum lines at breech ends. Hooks are stamped with S#'s, followed by a dot. (possibly as indication of rebarreling per factory records). Right plug is stamped with barrel maker's initials "TE" (Thomas Evans). Original nipples are stamped "L" & "R". Rosewood ramrod with brass head and tail (worm under cap) is stamped with S# on head and is held by two plain pipes. Case hardened breech iron with integral fences has simple but well cut open scroll engraving. Front spring locks with tall serpentine hammers are also very lightly engraved and are not engraved with maker's name. Purdey guns of this period did not show a large covering of engraving but this gun is exceptionally sparse. Stock of lightly marbled and somewhat fiddle figured dense European walnut measures 14 5/8" over blued steel buttplate with long scroll engraved top spur. Blued trigger guard has a simple spray of scroll on bow. Case hardened trigger plate has classic Purdey type pineapple finial engraved with a shell. Flat top point pattern checkering is around grip. Top of grip has small silver oval engraved with an armored fist holding a globe. Stock attaches to barrels with captive side bolt through oval silver escutcheons. MEASUREMENTS: STOCK: DAH: 2 1/16". DAC: 1 1/2". CAST: about 1" off (factory records indicate "stocked for left eye"). LOP: 14 5/8". WEIGHT: 6 lb. 12 oz. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: PROVENANCE factory letter with photocopy of ledger page listing this gun and notation "completed 1829 for Mr. T. Lightfoot, 16 bore 30" barrels. New barrels fitted March 1831". Gun is housed in its original mahogany case. Top has flush mounted "D" ring handle with central brass circle. Lid is secured by two pivoting hooks and key lock with round brass escutcheon. Interior is lined in green cloth with blue printed Purdey label in lid which has had "safety gunlock" info and address change cropped from bottom. Case contains a red Morocco leather covered powder flask by James Dixon, along with a James Dixon embossed leather shot flask and very interesting early brass capper with lathe cut decoration on top and three translucent horn windows on bottom for viewing caps. (all in large covered compartment, bottom of cover with brass knob has a dot inscribed with this guns S# "1866".) A large open compartment holds ebony handled nipple and hammer nose cleaning jags along with nipple wrench. A clear glass bottle is also included. Another compartment holds very rare Purdey patented dimpled or dented wad punch. The wads produced allowed air to escape while they were rammed into position over powder or shot. Some known examples are engraved with gun S# and "Detonator Purdey's". This later example only has maker's initials "SA" (Samuel Allen) and gauge "16". Another compartment with mahogany cover which also has gun S# underneath is filled with a large number of Purdey special wads of the type cut with this punch. Cleaning equipment includes a two piece Rosewood cleaning rod with worm & jag. CONDITION: truly exceptional. Barrels retaining over 90% original brown which shows some silvering at muzzles and some lightening of color from hand wear on sides above grip. Breech plugs retain most of their case hardening color. Locks, breech iron and trigger plate retain essentially all their case hardening color. Trigger guard retains well over 95% original bright blue. Buttplate about 85% with some loss at heel associated with loading. Stock retains nearly all its original oil finish with a few minor bumps and some oil rubbed in as maintenance. Bores are bright and shiny throughout, locks are crisp. Case is also exceptional, exterior only has a small number of scratches in its smooth original oil finish, interior cloth is very fine with some insect damage and light soiling. Label is fairly crisp and lightly foxed with rub through from contact with hammer screw. Accessories are also very fine. Wad punch with bright cutting cone has a small patch of oxidation, body retains most of its temper black. An exceptionally fine condition early Purdey. (01-21929/MGM). ANTIQUE. $6,000-9,000.