VERY EARLY PURDEY PERCUSSION GAME GUN.

VERY EARLY PURDEY PERCUSSION GAME GUN. SN 583. (ca. 1824) Cal. 20 Ga. The only information on this gun listed by L. Patrick Unsworth in his book THE EARLY PURDEYS is that it was a double shotgun with 30″ barrels. 30″ Skelp twist barrels are engraved “I. Purdey. Princes Street Leicester Square London.” on raised concave rib. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with London proofs, SNs, and “CL” (Charles Lancaster, barrel maker). Patent breeches have inlaid platinum band at rear, and vented platinum “blow-outs”. Rib extension has feather engraving. Breech iron with medium fences is engraved with open scroll. Front action locks with broad flat hammers are engraved with flowing open scroll with coiled sea serpent terminations. as is found only on some of the earliest Purdeys. Purdey is engraved on each lockplate. Faces of hammers have matching flowing scroll and heads have engraved stylized dolphins. Trigger plate has stylized pineapple finial, engraved with shell motif. Trigger guard has matching scroll on bow with SN on tang. Very finely marbled and figured Circassian walnut stock measures 14-3/8″ over steel buttplate with long top tang, which is also scroll engraved. There is a vacant rectangular crest plate at top of wrist. 20 LPI checkering has mullered borders. Forend attaches to bbl with side nail through oval silver escutcheons. Old ebony ramrod has steel head and brass tail with steel worm under cap. Ramrod is held by two plain pipes on bbl, and steel tailpipe with stylized pineapple finial. Bore diameter: left -.617, right -.617. Wall thickness at muzzles: left -.042, right -.045. Drop at heel: Approx. 2″, drop at comb: Approx. 1-3/4″. Weight: 6 lbs. 8 oz, LOP 14-3/8″. CONDITION: Very good. Bbls retain 50-60% old re-brown, probably done during period of use. There are a number of fairly deep knocks on left bbl and rib toward rear. Engraving remains clear. Locks and breeches retain traces of original case color where protected. Trigger guard has traces of original blue, but is mostly brown. Buttplate is mostly gray-brown. Stocks retain most of an old finish, possibly original, some oil rubbed into butt over the years. Checkering shows slight wear, and was probably freshened many years ago. Lock screw is a replacement, and a very small piece is missing from tip of tailpipe. Locks are crisp. Bores are fine, frosted. A very fine example of an early gun by this illustrious maker; the first to produce guns on the percussion principle, as we know it today. 4-40962 MGM167 (3,000-5,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2011

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
	1188	$3,450.00	VERY EARLY PURDEY PERCUSSION GAME GUN. SN 583. (ca. 1824) Cal. 20 Ga. The only information on this gun listed by L. Patrick Unsworth in his book THE EARLY PURDEYS is that it was a double shotgun with 30″ barrels. 30″ Skelp twist barrels are engraved “I. Purdey. Princes Street Leicester Square London.” on raised concave rib. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with London proofs, SNs, and “CL” (Charles Lancaster, barrel maker). Patent breeches have inlaid platinum band at rear, and vented platinum “blow-outs”. Rib extension has feather engraving. Breech iron with medium fences is engraved with open scroll. Front action locks with broad flat hammers are engraved with flowing open scroll with coiled sea serpent terminations. as is found only on some of the earliest Purdeys. Purdey is engraved on each lockplate. Faces of hammers have matching flowing scroll and heads have engraved stylized dolphins. Trigger plate has stylized pineapple finial, engraved with shell motif. Trigger guard has matching scroll on bow with SN on tang. Very finely marbled and figured Circassian walnut stock measures 14-3/8″ over steel buttplate with long top tang, which is also scroll engraved. There is a vacant rectangular crest plate at top of wrist. 20 LPI checkering has mullered borders. Forend attaches to bbl with side nail through oval silver escutcheons. Old ebony ramrod has steel head and brass tail with steel worm under cap. Ramrod is held by two plain pipes on bbl, and steel tailpipe with stylized pineapple finial. Bore diameter: left -.617, right -.617. Wall thickness at muzzles: left -.042, right -.045. Drop at heel: Approx. 2″, drop at comb: Approx. 1-3/4″. Weight: 6 lbs. 8 oz, LOP 14-3/8″. CONDITION: Very good. Bbls retain 50-60% old re-brown, probably done during period of use. There are a number of fairly deep knocks on left bbl and rib toward rear. Engraving remains clear. Locks and breeches retain traces of original case color where protected. Trigger guard has traces of original blue, but is mostly brown. Buttplate is mostly gray-brown. Stocks retain most of an old finish, possibly original, some oil rubbed into butt over the years. Checkering shows slight wear, and was probably freshened many years ago. Lock screw is a replacement, and a very small piece is missing from tip of tailpipe. Locks are crisp. Bores are fine, frosted. A very fine example of an early gun by this illustrious maker; the first to produce guns on the percussion principle, as we know it today. 4-40962 MGM167 (3,000-5,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2011 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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