BY JAMES PURDEY, 314½ OXFORD STREET, LONDON, NO. 2930 FOR 1836

Details

An Unique 16-Bore D.B. Magazine-Priming Pellet-Lock Sporting Gun
By James Purdey, 314½ Oxford Street, London, No. 2930 for 1836
Apparently converted from percussion, with browned twist barrels signed in full on the rib, scroll engraved case-hardened patent breeches, scroll engraved case-hardened tang, case-hardened serial numbered locks engraved with scrollwork and each fitted with globular reservoir and semi-circular rail, figured walnut half-stock, chequered grip, scroll engraved iron mounts with traces of blued finish, silver escutcheon, and associated brass-mounted ramrod, London proof marks
30¼in. (76.8cm.) barrels

Literature

L. Patrick Unsworth, The Early Purdeys, pp. 121, 220, plate 94 (the gun and its mechanism is fully described on p. 121)

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.

Lot Essay

Originally sold 25 August 1836 to J. Chamberlayne of Winchester, Hampshire, together with its case and leather cover for £57.15.0., a price not out of the ordinary for a double percussion gun. No. 2930's subsequent conversion is surprising, but the attention to detail and the quality of the conversion suggest that the work was carried out in Purdey's workshop

The magazine system employed is very similar to that which appears in the Patent drawings of an invention (of 1834) by Henry Shrapnel, illustrated in Howard L. Blackmore, Gunmakers of London, Supplement, plate 84

More from FINE ANTIQUE FIREARMS FROM THE W. KEITH NEAL COLLECTION

View All