A MAGNIFICENT PAIR OF 20-BORE HAMMER EJECTOR GUNS BY J. PURDEY, NO. 23891/2

Details

A MAGNIFICENT PAIR OF 20-BORE HAMMER EJECTOR GUNS BY J. PURDEY, NO. 23891/2
The action-bodies with side-clips, the rebounding backlocks with fine dolphin hammers, toplevers, percussion fences, best bouquet and scroll engraving with virtually full hardening-colour, highly-figured perfectly-matched stocks with pistolgrips and leather-covered recoil-pads, the Whitworth-steel chopper-lump barrels with game-ribs
Weight 5lb. 12oz., 14.3/8in. pulls, 28in. barrels, each approx. & choke, 2in. chambers, nitro proof

Sale room notice

It is understood that this exceptional pair of guns was given to the late King George V as a present by Purdey's and that they were subsequently returned to the makers because the King was not able to continue using them, possibly for reasons of ill health. The guns were later sold by Purdey's to a third party and have been in private hands ever since

Lot Essay

This exceptional pair of guns was built for the late King George V and presented to him in 1929 at a time when he had a preference for generally lighter, faster guns. The King had shot with Purdey hammer and hammer ejector guns all of his adult life and this pair represent, perhaps, the finest of all. They remain in exceptional condition for their age and with their provenance and inherent technical rarity and refinement represent arguably one of the best pairs of bespoke English guns in existance

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