EXCEPTIONALLY FINE JAMES PURDEY TOP LEVER HAMMER DOUBLE RIFLE WITH ORIGINAL CASE AND ACCESSORIES.

EXCEPTIONALLY FINE JAMES PURDEY TOP LEVER HAMMER DOUBLE RIFLE WITH ORIGINAL CASE AND ACCESSORIES. SN 11750. (1885) Cal. .450 BPE. 25-3/4″ Shoe lump steel barrels are engraved “J. Purdey & Sons. Audley House, South Audley Street, London.” on unmatted part of flat, raised full length file cut rib. Rear sight is a single standing leaf transversely dovetailed through rib with platinum line, and marked for 100 yards. Silver bead front sight is longitudinally dovetailed into front portion of rib. Bbls have 12 groove Enfield type rifling, with very narrow lands. Bbl flats have London provisional proofs. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with proofs, SN, and .440 (nominal bore diameter). Bbl makers initials “G A” (George Aston, head barrel maker) are on bottom of left bbl. Sling eye is soldered to bottom rib. Rounded bar case hardened top lever action features Purdey hidden third fastener, side clips, and very nicely filed fences. Island locks have short serpentine rebounding hammers with stylized dolphin heads, and front acting safety bolts which engage with hammers in rebounded position. Action, lockplates, and hammers are engraved with very nicely cut minute shaded scroll with rose bouquet highlights, in what was to become Purdey house style (originated by J. Lucas, head engraver, who probably was responsible for the work on this rifle). Bottom of action is engraved “Purdey’s Patent”. Lockplates are engraved “J. Purdey & Sons.” Top lever is engraved “Patent”. Trigger guard has open flowing scroll on bow, and SN at grip. Nicely marbled stump Circassian walnut full pistol grip buttstock measures 14-7/16″ over checkered and engraved steel buttplate, with widow’s peak, which is marked “Charge 4-1/4 drs. no. 6″. Stock features classic beaded shadow line cheekpiece for right handed shooter, and 28 LPI point pattern flat top wrap around checkering with mullered borders at points. Checkering is borderless along trigger guard, lockplates, and grip line. There is a vacant silver oval and sling loop on toe line. Matching splinter forend has Anson release, and there is an asterisk punched into central uncheckered diamond. Drop at heel: Approx 2″, drop at comb: Approx 1-3/8″. Weight: 8 lbs. 5 oz, LOP 14-7/16”. Original makers oak and leather case with brass central medallion and corners, is lined with scarlet cloth, with small James Purdey & Sons paper label, and original charge card for this particular rifle. There are oak lined recesses in lid to protect sights. Accessories include ebony handled striker key, turn screw, rammer marked 450, and James Dixon powder measure marked for 4-1/4 drams of #6 powder. There is also a nickle-plated broken shell extractor marked “James Purdey & Sons” and “450”, as well as a bone striker bottle with two gold-plated strikers and one return spring. Also present is a pull through cleaning kit in black Morocco wallet, and some brushes in red Morocco wallet. Original sling loops are also included, but are missing their mounting screws. CONDITION: Exceptionally fine. Bbls retain 85-90% of their original blue, thinning to brown, with a few minor marks and abrasions. Action retains 60-70% original case color, thinning on bottom and high points. Lockplates and hammers retain 85-90% of their case color, silvering toward tails. Striker retainers and safety bolts retain most of their fire blue. Trigger guard has flaked to about 20% original blue. Top lever retains most of its vivid charcoal blue, but silvered at top of thumbpiece. Buttstock retains most of its French polish finish with numerous marks and scrapes, and is quite dry. Silver oval is tarnished black. Buttplate retains traces of its charcoal blue in protected areas. Checkering has never been re-cut, and is a bit dirty. Forend shows some carrying wear with case color gone to gray, with numerous marks in wood. Finish is dulled. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Bores are superb. Case leather has many nicks, bumps and scrapes, with some dark spots of discoloration. Straps have been repaired, and are a bit tired. Original handle is dry, cracked, but intact. Interior cloth is fine, with rubs and slight soiling from contact with rifle. Partitions are tight. Labels show some soiling and rubs, but are quite bright. Accessories are fine. A nicely balanced and fast handling rifle for this time period, in fine original condition, and essentially “as found”. It could stand a good cleaning. 4-40193 MGM18 (25,000-35,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2010

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
	1285	$25,300.00	EXCEPTIONALLY FINE JAMES PURDEY TOP LEVER HAMMER DOUBLE RIFLE WITH ORIGINAL CASE AND ACCESSORIES. SN 11750. (1885) Cal. .450 BPE. 25-3/4″ Shoe lump steel barrels are engraved “J. Purdey & Sons. Audley House, South Audley Street, London.” on unmatted part of flat, raised full length file cut rib. Rear sight is a single standing leaf transversely dovetailed through rib with platinum line, and marked for 100 yards. Silver bead front sight is longitudinally dovetailed into front portion of rib. Bbls have 12 groove Enfield type rifling, with very narrow lands. Bbl flats have London provisional proofs. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with proofs, SN, and .440 (nominal bore diameter). Bbl makers initials “G A” (George Aston, head barrel maker) are on bottom of left bbl. Sling eye is soldered to bottom rib. Rounded bar case hardened top lever action features Purdey hidden third fastener, side clips, and very nicely filed fences. Island locks have short serpentine rebounding hammers with stylized dolphin heads, and front acting safety bolts which engage with hammers in rebounded position. Action, lockplates, and hammers are engraved with very nicely cut minute shaded scroll with rose bouquet highlights, in what was to become Purdey house style (originated by J. Lucas, head engraver, who probably was responsible for the work on this rifle). Bottom of action is engraved “Purdey’s Patent”. Lockplates are engraved “J. Purdey & Sons.” Top lever is engraved “Patent”. Trigger guard has open flowing scroll on bow, and SN at grip. Nicely marbled stump Circassian walnut full pistol grip buttstock measures 14-7/16″ over checkered and engraved steel buttplate, with widow’s peak, which is marked “Charge 4-1/4 drs. no. 6″. Stock features classic beaded shadow line cheekpiece for right handed shooter, and 28 LPI point pattern flat top wrap around checkering with mullered borders at points. Checkering is borderless along trigger guard, lockplates, and grip line. There is a vacant silver oval and sling loop on toe line. Matching splinter forend has Anson release, and there is an asterisk punched into central uncheckered diamond. Drop at heel: Approx 2″, drop at comb: Approx 1-3/8″. Weight: 8 lbs. 5 oz, LOP 14-7/16”. Original makers oak and leather case with brass central medallion and corners, is lined with scarlet cloth, with small James Purdey & Sons paper label, and original charge card for this particular rifle. There are oak lined recesses in lid to protect sights. Accessories include ebony handled striker key, turn screw, rammer marked 450, and James Dixon powder measure marked for 4-1/4 drams of #6 powder. There is also a nickle-plated broken shell extractor marked “James Purdey & Sons” and “450”, as well as a bone striker bottle with two gold-plated strikers and one return spring. Also present is a pull through cleaning kit in black Morocco wallet, and some brushes in red Morocco wallet. Original sling loops are also included, but are missing their mounting screws. CONDITION: Exceptionally fine. Bbls retain 85-90% of their original blue, thinning to brown, with a few minor marks and abrasions. Action retains 60-70% original case color, thinning on bottom and high points. Lockplates and hammers retain 85-90% of their case color, silvering toward tails. Striker retainers and safety bolts retain most of their fire blue. Trigger guard has flaked to about 20% original blue. Top lever retains most of its vivid charcoal blue, but silvered at top of thumbpiece. Buttstock retains most of its French polish finish with numerous marks and scrapes, and is quite dry. Silver oval is tarnished black. Buttplate retains traces of its charcoal blue in protected areas. Checkering has never been re-cut, and is a bit dirty. Forend shows some carrying wear with case color gone to gray, with numerous marks in wood. Finish is dulled. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Bores are superb. Case leather has many nicks, bumps and scrapes, with some dark spots of discoloration. Straps have been repaired, and are a bit tired. Original handle is dry, cracked, but intact. Interior cloth is fine, with rubs and slight soiling from contact with rifle. Partitions are tight. Labels show some soiling and rubs, but are quite bright. Accessories are fine. A nicely balanced and fast handling rifle for this time period, in fine original condition, and essentially “as found”. It could stand a good cleaning. 4-40193 MGM18 (25,000-35,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2010 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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