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Lot Essay
The gun was built for Charles P. Skouras in 1938. The following extract from The Hon. Richard Beaumont's book Purdey's The Guns And The Family reveals an interesting insight into Mr. Skouros' relationship with the best gunmakers of the time:-
'He also suggested that (Tom Purdey) should contact his friends in the industry on his next trip to Los Angeles, among them Fred Astaire, Gary Cooper, Darryl Zanuch. Tom already knew Charles P. Skouras of Twentieth Century Fox, this friendship with Mr Skouras having started in difficult circumstances when, summoned to the mogul's office in 1951 to show his wares, Tom felt he was being patronised. So when Skouras slapped Tom on the back after ordering a 12-bore and a 20-bore gun, Tom returned the slap with interest almost knocking the film producer off his feet. Skouras immediately asked him to dine and, as at the time he was financing the building of St. Sophia's Cathedral in Los Angeles, took Tom along after the meal to see the building and switched on the carillon at 11.30pm, waking half the city.'
Approximately 55 12-gauge 'A1 Special' guns were built by this maker and of these, a smaller number were completed with two sets of barrels
This lot is subject to VAT as a re-import
'He also suggested that (Tom Purdey) should contact his friends in the industry on his next trip to Los Angeles, among them Fred Astaire, Gary Cooper, Darryl Zanuch. Tom already knew Charles P. Skouras of Twentieth Century Fox, this friendship with Mr Skouras having started in difficult circumstances when, summoned to the mogul's office in 1951 to show his wares, Tom felt he was being patronised. So when Skouras slapped Tom on the back after ordering a 12-bore and a 20-bore gun, Tom returned the slap with interest almost knocking the film producer off his feet. Skouras immediately asked him to dine and, as at the time he was financing the building of St. Sophia's Cathedral in Los Angeles, took Tom along after the meal to see the building and switched on the carillon at 11.30pm, waking half the city.'
Approximately 55 12-gauge 'A1 Special' guns were built by this maker and of these, a smaller number were completed with two sets of barrels
This lot is subject to VAT as a re-import