ANACHRONISTIC J. PURDEY PERCUSSION DOUBLE RIFLE WITH CASE AND ACCESSORIES.

ANACHRONISTIC J. PURDEY PERCUSSION DOUBLE RIFLE WITH CASE AND ACCESSORIES. SN 9219. (1874) Cal. .40 (.420 Groove diameter Metford rifling). This interesting rifle built six years after the last of the famed two groove express rifles, which were still being produced well into the breech loading era, has 29″ steel bbls with full length flat rib, raised toward muzzle, fitted with through dovetailed single standing rear sight, with ivory blade screwed on, and silver bead front dovetailed through end of rib. “J. Purdey, 314-1/2, Oxford Street, London.” is engraved on rib in front of rear sight. Bottoms of bbls are fitted with three plain ramrod pipes, the central one with sling eye, and rear with loop, holding correct SNed Greenheart ramrod with brass tail and tip, which has deep groove to engage retaining stud at muzzle end of bbls. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with London proofs and SNs. Case hardened, SNed, patent breeches with engraved platinum vented “blow-outs” have platinum lines inlaid at rear, and feather engraving on rib extension. Correct type rifle nipples with platinum lined vents are installed. Right nipple is stamped “R” on bolster. Breech iron is filed with integral high fences. Front action locks fitted with typical Purdey late style tall flat faced percussion hammers, have front sliding safeties that engage at half cock. Breech iron and locks are engraved with exceptionally well cut minuscule shaded scroll engraving, undoubtedly the work of noted Purdey engraver J. Lucas. Trigger plate has simple circular finial. Charcoal blued trigger guard with large checkered spur forming pistol grip, has SN at grip. Honey-colored, dark streaked, and finely fiddle figured Circassian walnut stock measures 14-1/2″ over checkered wood butt, and features typical Purdey long beaded shadow line right hand cheekpiece, and standard flat top checkering with mullered borders at grip and forepiece. Vacant silver oval and sling eye, matching that on bbl, are on toe line. Stock fastens to bbls with single side nail through ovoid engraved steel escutcheons with circular tips. Drop at heel: Approx. 2-1/16″. Drop at comb: Approx. 1-3/4″. Weight: 8 lbs. 12 oz. Beautifully fiddle figured mahogany case with pivoting hook latches and inlet circular D-ring handle, is also of an earlier style than would be expected for this rifle, as generally Purdey rifles were cased in quartered oak by the 1850’s. Removable wad container has remnants of paper dot inside where SN is usually inked in, and is illegible. Rifle fits case well, however bbls are not oriented in the normal manner, and ramrod needs to be removed for bbls to fit. Interior is lined with green cloth with orig Purdey Oxford Street blue printed label, and contains early dark brown leather sling with steel snap swivels, very fine 2-pc case hardened nipple wrench with pricker mounted on shaft, having two brass caps on handle covering container for pair of nipples and turnscrew in its leather wallet marked “962 DR”, crystal oil bottle with nickel-plated screw top, Purdey marked horn handled turnscrew, 2-pc small caliber wood and brass cleaning rod, reproduction Sykes type brass capper, and new nutcracker type round ball mold stamped “.395” and “Made in England”, as well as a small deerskin leather drawstring bag. PROVENANCE: Email from Purdeys relating that it was a 70 bore double bbl muzzle loading rifle completed in 1874 for Sir C. Lampson. Henry H. Blagden Estate Collection. CONDITION: Excellent, as partially refinished. Bbls retain most of what appears to be orig blue, but is possibly an older high quality re-blue. Breech plugs retain a considerable amount of their case hardening color, but show cleaning to mostly pewter gray. Breech iron and locks retain 70 – 80% orig case hardening color, strong and vivid on plates. Safeties retain most of their orig fire blue. Trigger guard retains most of what appears to be its orig charcoal blue, flaked somewhat on bow, and considerably at tail. Stocks retain nearly all of an old nicely done oil finish over some minor marks, sharp edges slightly softened, and beads of cheekpiece are slightly filled with finish. Checkering on forend partially re-run. Repaired crack runs along bottom of forepiece from thimble to side nail. Bores are excellent, near mint, with a hint of frosting toward muzzles. Locks and safeties are crisp. Exterior of case is fine, showing an old refinish and repair at rear of lid. Interior cloth is fine with some repairs of areas that have been worn through. Partitions are sound. Label is very fine, slightly foxed, with area of repair at upper left corner. Sling is good, other accessories fine. A very unusual Purdey double. Donald Dallas in PURDEY THE DEFINITIVE HISTORY estimates that a total of 809 double percussion rifles were built by Purdeys. 4-46042 MGM291 (12,500-17,500)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012

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
	1208	$16,520.00	ANACHRONISTIC J. PURDEY PERCUSSION DOUBLE RIFLE WITH CASE AND ACCESSORIES. SN 9219. (1874) Cal. .40 (.420 Groove diameter Metford rifling). This interesting rifle built six years after the last of the famed two groove express rifles, which were still being produced well into the breech loading era, has 29″ steel bbls with full length flat rib, raised toward muzzle, fitted with through dovetailed single standing rear sight, with ivory blade screwed on, and silver bead front dovetailed through end of rib. “J. Purdey, 314-1/2, Oxford Street, London.” is engraved on rib in front of rear sight. Bottoms of bbls are fitted with three plain ramrod pipes, the central one with sling eye, and rear with loop, holding correct SNed Greenheart ramrod with brass tail and tip, which has deep groove to engage retaining stud at muzzle end of bbls. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with London proofs and SNs. Case hardened, SNed, patent breeches with engraved platinum vented “blow-outs” have platinum lines inlaid at rear, and feather engraving on rib extension. Correct type rifle nipples with platinum lined vents are installed. Right nipple is stamped “R” on bolster. Breech iron is filed with integral high fences. Front action locks fitted with typical Purdey late style tall flat faced percussion hammers, have front sliding safeties that engage at half cock. Breech iron and locks are engraved with exceptionally well cut minuscule shaded scroll engraving, undoubtedly the work of noted Purdey engraver J. Lucas. Trigger plate has simple circular finial. Charcoal blued trigger guard with large checkered spur forming pistol grip, has SN at grip. Honey-colored, dark streaked, and finely fiddle figured Circassian walnut stock measures 14-1/2″ over checkered wood butt, and features typical Purdey long beaded shadow line right hand cheekpiece, and standard flat top checkering with mullered borders at grip and forepiece. Vacant silver oval and sling eye, matching that on bbl, are on toe line. Stock fastens to bbls with single side nail through ovoid engraved steel escutcheons with circular tips. Drop at heel: Approx. 2-1/16″. Drop at comb: Approx. 1-3/4″. Weight: 8 lbs. 12 oz. Beautifully fiddle figured mahogany case with pivoting hook latches and inlet circular D-ring handle, is also of an earlier style than would be expected for this rifle, as generally Purdey rifles were cased in quartered oak by the 1850’s. Removable wad container has remnants of paper dot inside where SN is usually inked in, and is illegible. Rifle fits case well, however bbls are not oriented in the normal manner, and ramrod needs to be removed for bbls to fit. Interior is lined with green cloth with orig Purdey Oxford Street blue printed label, and contains early dark brown leather sling with steel snap swivels, very fine 2-pc case hardened nipple wrench with pricker mounted on shaft, having two brass caps on handle covering container for pair of nipples and turnscrew in its leather wallet marked “962 DR”, crystal oil bottle with nickel-plated screw top, Purdey marked horn handled turnscrew, 2-pc small caliber wood and brass cleaning rod, reproduction Sykes type brass capper, and new nutcracker type round ball mold stamped “.395” and “Made in England”, as well as a small deerskin leather drawstring bag. PROVENANCE: Email from Purdeys relating that it was a 70 bore double bbl muzzle loading rifle completed in 1874 for Sir C. Lampson. Henry H. Blagden Estate Collection. CONDITION: Excellent, as partially refinished. Bbls retain most of what appears to be orig blue, but is possibly an older high quality re-blue. Breech plugs retain a considerable amount of their case hardening color, but show cleaning to mostly pewter gray. Breech iron and locks retain 70 – 80% orig case hardening color, strong and vivid on plates. Safeties retain most of their orig fire blue. Trigger guard retains most of what appears to be its orig charcoal blue, flaked somewhat on bow, and considerably at tail. Stocks retain nearly all of an old nicely done oil finish over some minor marks, sharp edges slightly softened, and beads of cheekpiece are slightly filled with finish. Checkering on forend partially re-run. Repaired crack runs along bottom of forepiece from thimble to side nail. Bores are excellent, near mint, with a hint of frosting toward muzzles. Locks and safeties are crisp. Exterior of case is fine, showing an old refinish and repair at rear of lid. Interior cloth is fine with some repairs of areas that have been worn through. Partitions are sound. Label is very fine, slightly foxed, with area of repair at upper left corner. Sling is good, other accessories fine. A very unusual Purdey double. Donald Dallas in PURDEY THE DEFINITIVE HISTORY estimates that a total of 809 double percussion rifles were built by Purdeys. 4-46042 MGM291 (12,500-17,500) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012 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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