JAMES PURDEY & SONS BAR IN WOOD TOP LEVER HAMMER PIGEON GUN.

JAMES PURDEY & SONS BAR IN WOOD TOP LEVER HAMMER PIGEON GUN. SN 11881. Cal.12 Ga. 2-3/4″ Chambers. 30″ Dovetailed Whitworth steel bbls are engraved “J. Purdey & Sons. Audley House, South Audley Street, London. Made of Sir Joseph Whitworth’s Fluid-pressed steel” on broad concave rib w/ triangle of engraving at breech, and Purdey hidden extension. Bbl flats have London provisional and definitive proofs. Bottoms of bbls are marked “12 B 13 M”, “Not for Ball”, SN, and initials “C.A” (C Astin, head barrel maker). Bar in wood action has a very heavy breech w/ London view proofs and features Purdey bolt and third fastener, and finely filed fences w/ very fine, well executed shaded bouquet and scroll, probably by engraver J. Lucas. Front action locks have rebounding low set hammers and are engraved w/ matching bouquet and scroll w/ “J. Purdey & Sons” on both sides. Hammers have matching scroll w/ dolphin heads. Trigger guard is engraved w/ scroll, and SN on grip. Beautifully marbled and lightly figured Circassian walnut straight grip buttstock measures 15-1/8″ over black “Decelerator” pad, and features drop points, 22 LPI checkering w/ mullered borders, and silver oval w/ initials “RIC” intertwined. Splinter forend has Anson release w/ engraving and wood to match buttstock. Checkering is borderless. An emaill from Purdey’s states “completed in August 1884 for Mr J. Rosier, 29 7/8″ barrels, made of Whitworth steel, pigeon rib.” Bore diameter: left -735, right -735. Bore restrictions: left -.024, right -.024. Wall thickness: left -.027, right -.025. Drop at heel: 2-1/4″, drop at comb: 1-11/16″. Weight:7 lbs 8oz. CONDITION: Very good. Bbls retain virtually all of London quality re-black. Engraving is washed on rib. Action and lock plates are mostly silver gray w/ areas of original case color where protected. Left lock plate has probably 30% color. There are many areas of fairly deep pitting where wood meets metal. Wood has been refinished w/ rubbed oil, and is under metal in many areas. Details around lock plates and drop points are rounded. Checkering has been re-cut. Minor hair line crack behind right lock plate. Action is tight, bbls are on face. Bores are very fine, bright and shiny but w/ a few minor pits toward muzzle especially in right barrel. Locks are crisp. Anson button needs to be depressed to install forend. 4-37794 MGM61 (12,000-14,000)

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
	1183	$13,800.00	JAMES PURDEY & SONS BAR IN WOOD TOP LEVER HAMMER PIGEON GUN. SN 11881. Cal.12 Ga. 2-3/4″ Chambers. 30″ Dovetailed Whitworth steel bbls are engraved “J. Purdey & Sons. Audley House, South Audley Street, London. Made of Sir Joseph Whitworth’s Fluid-pressed steel” on broad concave rib w/ triangle of engraving at breech, and Purdey hidden extension. Bbl flats have London provisional and definitive proofs. Bottoms of bbls are marked “12 B 13 M”, “Not for Ball”, SN, and initials “C.A” (C Astin, head barrel maker). Bar in wood action has a very heavy breech w/ London view proofs and features Purdey bolt and third fastener, and finely filed fences w/ very fine, well executed shaded bouquet and scroll, probably by engraver J. Lucas. Front action locks have rebounding low set hammers and are engraved w/ matching bouquet and scroll w/ “J. Purdey & Sons” on both sides. Hammers have matching scroll w/ dolphin heads. Trigger guard is engraved w/ scroll, and SN on grip. Beautifully marbled and lightly figured Circassian walnut straight grip buttstock measures 15-1/8″ over black “Decelerator” pad, and features drop points, 22 LPI checkering w/ mullered borders, and silver oval w/ initials “RIC” intertwined. Splinter forend has Anson release w/ engraving and wood to match buttstock. Checkering is borderless. An emaill from Purdey’s states “completed in August 1884 for Mr J. Rosier, 29 7/8″ barrels, made of Whitworth steel, pigeon rib.” Bore diameter: left -735, right -735. Bore restrictions: left -.024, right -.024. Wall thickness: left -.027, right -.025. Drop at heel: 2-1/4″, drop at comb: 1-11/16″. Weight:7 lbs 8oz. CONDITION: Very good. Bbls retain virtually all of London quality re-black. Engraving is washed on rib. Action and lock plates are mostly silver gray w/ areas of original case color where protected. Left lock plate has probably 30% color. There are many areas of fairly deep pitting where wood meets metal. Wood has been refinished w/ rubbed oil, and is under metal in many areas. Details around lock plates and drop points are rounded. Checkering has been re-cut. Minor hair line crack behind right lock plate. Action is tight, bbls are on face. Bores are very fine, bright and shiny but w/ a few minor pits toward muzzle especially in right barrel. Locks are crisp. Anson button needs to be depressed to install forend. 4-37794 MGM61 (12,000-14,000) 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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