THE PROPERTY OF A EUROPEAN COLLECTOR
A RARE KELL-ENGRAVED 12-BORE (2¾IN) SINGLE-TRIGGER SELF-OPENING SIDELOCK EJECTOR GUN BY J. PURDEY, No. 23084, Purdey non-selective single-trigger, treble-grip action with side-clips, the action-body, lockplates and furniture chiselled in relief in the Classical style, the lockplates with the motifs of putti bating griffons, the fences and safe with grotesque masks and the underside of the action-body with putti and masks, the whole surrounded and invaded by bold foliate-scrolls with vine leaves and their fruit on a matt ground, the triggerguard and toplever with the additional motifs of Artemis, goddess of the moon and hunting, and a caryatid, brushed bright finish overall, highly-figured replacement stock with semi-pistolgrip, the Whitworth-steel chopper-lump barrels with matt rib and mid and fore-beadsights
Details
A RARE KELL-ENGRAVED 12-BORE (2¾IN) SINGLE-TRIGGER SELF-OPENING SIDELOCK EJECTOR GUN BY J. PURDEY, No. 23084, Purdey non-selective single-trigger, treble-grip action with side-clips, the action-body, lockplates and furniture chiselled in relief in the Classical style, the lockplates with the motifs of putti bating griffons, the fences and safe with grotesque masks and the underside of the action-body with putti and masks, the whole surrounded and invaded by bold foliate-scrolls with vine leaves and their fruit on a matt ground, the triggerguard and toplever with the additional motifs of Artemis, goddess of the moon and hunting, and a caryatid, brushed bright finish overall, highly-figured replacement stock with semi-pistolgrip, the Whitworth-steel chopper-lump barrels with matt rib and mid and fore-beadsights
Weight 7lb. 3½oz., 14 5/8in. stock, 28in. barrels, both approx. ¾ choke, 2¾in. chambers, nitro proof
With its original 13¾in. stock (with semi-pistolgrip, extension and recoil-pad) and beavertail forend
In its de-luxe brass-mounted oak and leather case
The gun was completed circa 1926 and, unusually, Purdey records note that the engraving was executed by Mr. H. Kell, arguably the greatest of early twentieth century engravers and the forefather of modern gun embellishment
The work was 'chased to match an existing gun, No. 20042' and resembles very closely the decoration on Purdey gun No. 14469, built in 1892 for the Shah of Persia
It is one of modern gunmaking's greatest tragedies that the identities of those who built the world's greatest sporting guns in the early years of this century are now largely forgotten. It is, almost without exception, the case that the positive identification of an engraver's work is impossible without mention of his name in the maker's books and as this was so rarely done much attribution remains guesswork. It is a great testament to the quality of the work and the fame of the engraver that this was not the case with gun No. 23084
Weight 7lb. 3½oz., 14 5/8in. stock, 28in. barrels, both approx. ¾ choke, 2¾in. chambers, nitro proof
With its original 13¾in. stock (with semi-pistolgrip, extension and recoil-pad) and beavertail forend
In its de-luxe brass-mounted oak and leather case
The gun was completed circa 1926 and, unusually, Purdey records note that the engraving was executed by Mr. H. Kell, arguably the greatest of early twentieth century engravers and the forefather of modern gun embellishment
The work was 'chased to match an existing gun, No. 20042' and resembles very closely the decoration on Purdey gun No. 14469, built in 1892 for the Shah of Persia
It is one of modern gunmaking's greatest tragedies that the identities of those who built the world's greatest sporting guns in the early years of this century are now largely forgotten. It is, almost without exception, the case that the positive identification of an engraver's work is impossible without mention of his name in the maker's books and as this was so rarely done much attribution remains guesswork. It is a great testament to the quality of the work and the fame of the engraver that this was not the case with gun No. 23084