TRULY SPECTACULAR PAIR. JAMES PURDEY PERCUSSION DOUBLE RIFLE AND SHOTGUN WITH ORIGINAL CASE AND ACCESSORIES.

TRULY SPECTACULAR PAIR. JAMES PURDEY PERCUSSION DOUBLE RIFLE AND SHOTGUN WITH ORIGINAL CASE AND ACCESSORIES. SN 3311/3897. Cal. 16 Bore. Serial numbers 3311 (1839) and 3897 (1844). The rifle 3311 is engraved “J. Purdey. 314 1/2 Oxford Street. London.” on broad flat top rib w/ one standing, 2 folding leaf rear sight, dovetailed transversally. Platinum front sight is set directly in a slot in the top of the rib. Beautifully figured Damascus barrels are rifled w/ 10 deep grooves. Bottoms of bbls are stamped w/ London provisional and view proof marks, as well as, SN and “JP”. There are view marks and SN on case colored breech plugs w/ original nipples marked “R” and “L”. The breech plugs are fitted w/ vented platinum “blow outs”. The plain middle rod pipe has a sling eye. The ebony ram rod has a heavy brass tip w/ groove to engage boss on front bottom of bbls, and has a worm under removable rear brass end, and is marked w/ SN. The lock plates are engraved with typical for the period beautifully executed open scroll, each w/ “Purdey”. Typical Purdey style rifle hammers have matching scroll, and stylized dolphin heads and can be locked at half cock w/ front mounted sliding bolts. Breech iron is beautifully engraved w/ shaded openwork scroll. Charcoal blued trigger guard has more open scroll, a checkered pistol grip, and SN on rear tang. Trigger plate ends in stylized pineapple finial as does the front thimble. Beautifully marbled and figured Circassian walnut stock has a double beaded cheek piece for right hand shooter, steel long tang checkered butt plate w/ matching scroll engraving on tang. A very unusual for Purdey large rectangular patch box with pagoda shaped finial, beautifully engraved w/ very large open scroll. There’s a large steel button on toe line to attach sling. Checkering is flat topped at about 18 LPI w/ mullered borders. L. Patrick Unsworth, in his book, THE EARLY PURDEYS, lists this rifle as being completed in 1839,and sold for 84 pounds. The shotgun number 3897 is engraved “J. Purdey, 314 1/2 Oxford Street, London” on broad concave top rib. Bottoms of bbls are marked w/ SN, London provisional and view proofs, and “JP”. Case hardened breech plugs have view marks, SN, feather burst engraved vented platinum “blow outs”, and right breech plug is marked “T. E.” (Thomas Evans, barrel maker). Nipples are marked “R” and “L”, and have concentric rings to insure anchoring of caps. There is a sling eye on central rod pipe. Ramrod has brass front end, threaded, and there’s a worm under brass cap of back end. Lock plates are border line engraved w/ “Purdey” on both sides. Typical percussion hammers also have line border engraving. Case hardened breech iron also has matching line engraving. Bright charcoal blued trigger guard has line engraving and a sling eye at its finial. Front fastening of trigger plate is extended into the checkering for extra strength, and is quite plain w/ just a doll’s head finial. Front thimble is also quite plain w/ line engraving. All screw heads have feather burst engraving. Triggers appear to be nickel plated, the front is grooved. Nicely marbled Circassian walnut stock has long tang, plain butt plate, w/ border engraving, and a patch box which matches the rifle in style, but is quite plain, matching the rest of the gun. The checkering is flat topped at about 18 LPI w/ mullered borders. It’s interesting that the SN does not appear anywhere except on the bottoms of the barrels. L. Patrick Unsworth lists this gun as completed in 1844, and sold for 30 pounds with an “old gun” put in part exchange. The figured mahogany, two tiered case has inset brass corners, pivoting brass fasteners, and key lock, as well as, an inset “D Ring” handle in the top. Interior is lined in green cloth w/ lift out top barrel tray. Bottom compartment holds the stocks. A very rare small J. Purdey, 314 1/2 Oxford Street label is on the lid. There are 2 covered compartments in the bottom w/ numbers 3579X8 under lids. Accessories include: 2 original leather slings w/ fire blued snap hooks, one with loop for shotgun, the other w/ button hole for rifle, 2 spare ramrods (rifle rod has SN), leather covered tin powder flask marked “Patent” on brass top, 2-pc rosewood cleaning rod, 2 bullet starters, rosewood handled nipple key, “Field” take down nipple key in leather wallet, Steel plate w/ 2 holes (one marked “rifle”, the other “shot”), a William Davis improved no. 16 round ball mould engraved “Coghlan, Esq.re”, “Double rifle”, “3311”, and “Purdey”, Steel Sprue cutter marked “16”, beautifully made but unmarked brass and steel conical ball mould w/ rifling cast in, large patch cutter, Cleaning brushes, and Wad cutter w/ SN “3897”. CONDITION: Phenomenal. Bbls retain virtually all of their original brown. Bores are bright and shiny. Virtually all original case color on locks, hammers, and other furniture, except a bit thin on thimble of the rifle. Trigger guards, patch boxes, and butt plates retain virtually all their original bright blue, except butt plate of rifle shows flaking and some abrasion from use on rear bump. Stocks retain virtually all their French polish, again, the rifle showing some use. Case is very fine w/ some scratches and marks from handling. Interior cloth is very good, with slight fading and wear. Some moth damage and patches in lift out top. Accessories are mostly very fine, w/ slings showing some cracking from age, and flask has some deterioration of leather. A World class pair, worthy of the finest collection. 4-37715 MGM11 (60,000-90,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2009

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1180	$54,625.00	TRULY SPECTACULAR PAIR. JAMES PURDEY PERCUSSION DOUBLE RIFLE AND SHOTGUN WITH ORIGINAL CASE AND ACCESSORIES. SN 3311/3897. Cal. 16 Bore. Serial numbers 3311 (1839) and 3897 (1844). The rifle 3311 is engraved “J. Purdey. 314 1/2 Oxford Street. London.” on broad flat top rib w/ one standing, 2 folding leaf rear sight, dovetailed transversally. Platinum front sight is set directly in a slot in the top of the rib. Beautifully figured Damascus barrels are rifled w/ 10 deep grooves. Bottoms of bbls are stamped w/ London provisional and view proof marks, as well as, SN and “JP”. There are view marks and SN on case colored breech plugs w/ original nipples marked “R” and “L”. The breech plugs are fitted w/ vented platinum “blow outs”. The plain middle rod pipe has a sling eye. The ebony ram rod has a heavy brass tip w/ groove to engage boss on front bottom of bbls, and has a worm under removable rear brass end, and is marked w/ SN. The lock plates are engraved with typical for the period beautifully executed open scroll, each w/ “Purdey”. Typical Purdey style rifle hammers have matching scroll, and stylized dolphin heads and can be locked at half cock w/ front mounted sliding bolts. Breech iron is beautifully engraved w/ shaded openwork scroll. Charcoal blued trigger guard has more open scroll, a checkered pistol grip, and SN on rear tang. Trigger plate ends in stylized pineapple finial as does the front thimble. Beautifully marbled and figured Circassian walnut stock has a double beaded cheek piece for right hand shooter, steel long tang checkered butt plate w/ matching scroll engraving on tang. A very unusual for Purdey large rectangular patch box with pagoda shaped finial, beautifully engraved w/ very large open scroll. There’s a large steel button on toe line to attach sling. Checkering is flat topped at about 18 LPI w/ mullered borders. L. Patrick Unsworth, in his book, THE EARLY PURDEYS, lists this rifle as being completed in 1839,and sold for 84 pounds. The shotgun number 3897 is engraved “J. Purdey, 314 1/2 Oxford Street, London” on broad concave top rib. Bottoms of bbls are marked w/ SN, London provisional and view proofs, and “JP”. Case hardened breech plugs have view marks, SN, feather burst engraved vented platinum “blow outs”, and right breech plug is marked “T. E.” (Thomas Evans, barrel maker). Nipples are marked “R” and “L”, and have concentric rings to insure anchoring of caps. There is a sling eye on central rod pipe. Ramrod has brass front end, threaded, and there’s a worm under brass cap of back end. Lock plates are border line engraved w/ “Purdey” on both sides. Typical percussion hammers also have line border engraving. Case hardened breech iron also has matching line engraving. Bright charcoal blued trigger guard has line engraving and a sling eye at its finial. Front fastening of trigger plate is extended into the checkering for extra strength, and is quite plain w/ just a doll’s head finial. Front thimble is also quite plain w/ line engraving. All screw heads have feather burst engraving. Triggers appear to be nickel plated, the front is grooved. Nicely marbled Circassian walnut stock has long tang, plain butt plate, w/ border engraving, and a patch box which matches the rifle in style, but is quite plain, matching the rest of the gun. The checkering is flat topped at about 18 LPI w/ mullered borders. It’s interesting that the SN does not appear anywhere except on the bottoms of the barrels. L. Patrick Unsworth lists this gun as completed in 1844, and sold for 30 pounds with an “old gun” put in part exchange. The figured mahogany, two tiered case has inset brass corners, pivoting brass fasteners, and key lock, as well as, an inset “D Ring” handle in the top. Interior is lined in green cloth w/ lift out top barrel tray. Bottom compartment holds the stocks. A very rare small J. Purdey, 314 1/2 Oxford Street label is on the lid. There are 2 covered compartments in the bottom w/ numbers 3579X8 under lids. Accessories include: 2 original leather slings w/ fire blued snap hooks, one with loop for shotgun, the other w/ button hole for rifle, 2 spare ramrods (rifle rod has SN), leather covered tin powder flask marked “Patent” on brass top, 2-pc rosewood cleaning rod, 2 bullet starters, rosewood handled nipple key, “Field” take down nipple key in leather wallet, Steel plate w/ 2 holes (one marked “rifle”, the other “shot”), a William Davis improved no. 16 round ball mould engraved “Coghlan, Esq.re”, “Double rifle”, “3311”, and “Purdey”, Steel Sprue cutter marked “16”, beautifully made but unmarked brass and steel conical ball mould w/ rifling cast in, large patch cutter, Cleaning brushes, and Wad cutter w/ SN “3897”. CONDITION: Phenomenal. Bbls retain virtually all of their original brown. Bores are bright and shiny. Virtually all original case color on locks, hammers, and other furniture, except a bit thin on thimble of the rifle. Trigger guards, patch boxes, and butt plates retain virtually all their original bright blue, except butt plate of rifle shows flaking and some abrasion from use on rear bump. Stocks retain virtually all their French polish, again, the rifle showing some use. Case is very fine w/ some scratches and marks from handling. Interior cloth is very good, with slight fading and wear. Some moth damage and patches in lift out top. Accessories are mostly very fine, w/ slings showing some cracking from age, and flask has some deterioration of leather. A World class pair, worthy of the finest collection. 4-37715 MGM11 (60,000-90,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2009 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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