EXCEEDINGLY RARE AND IMPORTANT JAMES PURDEY DOUBLE FLINT SHOTGUN.

EXCEEDINGLY RARE AND IMPORTANT JAMES PURDEY DOUBLE FLINT SHOTGUN. SN 687. (Ca. 1825) Cal. 16 Bore. One of the last flintlocks made by Purdey, who was one of the pioneers of the percussion system, producing percussion guns, as we know them today, as early as 1821. 30″ Twist steel bbls are engraved on high elevating rib, “J. Purdey Princes Street. Leicester Square. London.” Bottoms of bbls have SN, proofs, and “CL” (noted barrel maker Charles Lancaster). Three ramrod pipes are on bottom of bbl, central one has sling eye; rear has loop. Ebony ramrod has brass head and tail, with worm under tail cap. Inset patent breeches have platinum touch holes, “Purdey London” on inset platinum poincon, and platinum bands at front and back. Breech iron is engraved with well executed open shaded scroll. Lockplates have nicely filed waterproof pans. Frizzens have elongated tails, and roller is on frizzen spring. Lockplates are engraved with coiled dragon motif at rear, with well cut scroll termination. “Purdey” is on each lockplate. Reinforced cocks are nicely filed, and scroll engraved. Bottom jaw has notch filed to engage top of rear fence, as a stop. Note: SN “687” appears on top of lockplate on right hand lock, and no. “839” is on interior front of left lockplate. L. Patrick Unsworth, in his book, “The Early Purdey’s”, in his listing of all known SNs, notes that for this SN, 687, is only listed because its left hand lock is in known gun “839”. and states that “both the guns 687 and 839 were in the same ownership at one time which is no doubt when the lock became transposed.” Well, here is gun number 687 with the left hand lock of gun 839, which proves his conjecture. He goes on to point out on page 112 that it is a testimony to the precision of the lock maker that in an era before interchangeability of parts became a standard, that these locks are essentially interchangeable. The fit is perfect. Trigger plate has stylized “pineapple” with shell motif engraved in body. Sling eye acts as retaining screw for breech iron. Thimble has pineapple leaf finial with sunburst engraving. Large bow trigger guard is scroll engraved. Dense European walnut stock has slight crotch figure with some dark lines. It measure 14-3/8″ over steel buttplate with scroll engraving on long top tang. There is a sling button on toe line. Flat top checkering is at 18 LPI with mullered borders. Bbls attach to stock with side nail through oval silver escutcheons. Bore diameter: left -.672, right -.672. Wall thickness: left – Approx .035, right – Approx .038. Drop at heel: 2-1/2″, drop at comb: 1-5/8″. Weight: 7 lbs. 10 oz, LOP 14-3/8″. CONDITION: Fine. Bbls retain nearly all of an old brown finish, with good definition to pattern, over widespread pitting. Lockplates have traces of case color in protected areas, with pinprick pitting at rear, mostly they are gray brown. Trigger guard is silver gray and pitted. Remaining furniture is silver gray. Stocks retain 60% of original French polish finish; areas where finish has worn through, are dark. Locks are crisp, as are frizzens. Bores are excellent, bright and shiny. Any Purdey gun in original flint is a rarity, and this one is superb mechanically. 4-38991 MGM128 (50,000-70,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 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
	1220	$69,000.00	EXCEEDINGLY RARE AND IMPORTANT JAMES PURDEY DOUBLE FLINT SHOTGUN. SN 687. (Ca. 1825) Cal. 16 Bore. One of the last flintlocks made by Purdey, who was one of the pioneers of the percussion system, producing percussion guns, as we know them today, as early as 1821. 30″ Twist steel bbls are engraved on high elevating rib, “J. Purdey Princes Street. Leicester Square. London.” Bottoms of bbls have SN, proofs, and “CL” (noted barrel maker Charles Lancaster). Three ramrod pipes are on bottom of bbl, central one has sling eye; rear has loop. Ebony ramrod has brass head and tail, with worm under tail cap. Inset patent breeches have platinum touch holes, “Purdey London” on inset platinum poincon, and platinum bands at front and back. Breech iron is engraved with well executed open shaded scroll. Lockplates have nicely filed waterproof pans. Frizzens have elongated tails, and roller is on frizzen spring. Lockplates are engraved with coiled dragon motif at rear, with well cut scroll termination. “Purdey” is on each lockplate. Reinforced cocks are nicely filed, and scroll engraved. Bottom jaw has notch filed to engage top of rear fence, as a stop. Note: SN “687” appears on top of lockplate on right hand lock, and no. “839” is on interior front of left lockplate. L. Patrick Unsworth, in his book, “The Early Purdey’s”, in his listing of all known SNs, notes that for this SN, 687, is only listed because its left hand lock is in known gun “839”. and states that “both the guns 687 and 839 were in the same ownership at one time which is no doubt when the lock became transposed.” Well, here is gun number 687 with the left hand lock of gun 839, which proves his conjecture. He goes on to point out on page 112 that it is a testimony to the precision of the lock maker that in an era before interchangeability of parts became a standard, that these locks are essentially interchangeable. The fit is perfect. Trigger plate has stylized “pineapple” with shell motif engraved in body. Sling eye acts as retaining screw for breech iron. Thimble has pineapple leaf finial with sunburst engraving. Large bow trigger guard is scroll engraved. Dense European walnut stock has slight crotch figure with some dark lines. It measure 14-3/8″ over steel buttplate with scroll engraving on long top tang. There is a sling button on toe line. Flat top checkering is at 18 LPI with mullered borders. Bbls attach to stock with side nail through oval silver escutcheons. Bore diameter: left -.672, right -.672. Wall thickness: left – Approx .035, right – Approx .038. Drop at heel: 2-1/2″, drop at comb: 1-5/8″. Weight: 7 lbs. 10 oz, LOP 14-3/8″. CONDITION: Fine. Bbls retain nearly all of an old brown finish, with good definition to pattern, over widespread pitting. Lockplates have traces of case color in protected areas, with pinprick pitting at rear, mostly they are gray brown. Trigger guard is silver gray and pitted. Remaining furniture is silver gray. Stocks retain 60% of original French polish finish; areas where finish has worn through, are dark. Locks are crisp, as are frizzens. Bores are excellent, bright and shiny. Any Purdey gun in original flint is a rarity, and this one is superb mechanically. 4-38991 MGM128 (50,000-70,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 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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