EARLY J. PURDEY 14 BORE PERCUSSION DOUBLE RIFLE WITH PATENT SAFETY AND ORIGINAL CASE.

EARLY J. PURDEY 14 BORE PERCUSSION DOUBLE RIFLE WITH PATENT SAFETY AND ORIGINAL CASE. SN 1933. Cal. .695 10 groove rifling. 28″ Stub twist bbls engraved “I. Purdey No. 314 1/2 Oxford Street. London.” and have one standing, two folding platinum lined rear sight, and inset steel front bead on wide flat rib. Bottoms of bbls are marked “J.P.”, have London proofs, and SN 1933″ (1831). The loop is stamped “W.C” Patent breeches are stamped w/ SN on the hooks, have vented platinum blow outs, and London view marks on the bottom. Ebony ramrod has brass ends and is stamped w/ no. “1933.” Lock plates fit tightly under the bbl bolsters and are engraved w/ well executed large open scroll, and are fitted w/ Purdey’s patent safety. Engraved “Purdey” and “Patent” under the safety pivot. Safety levers are engraved “safety.” Flat serpentine hammers are scroll engraved w/ dolphin heads and stylized dolphins where the safeties engage. Breech iron engraved w/ shaded open scroll, and a shell motif. Trigger guard has open scroll to match lock plates, and safety lever has “patent” engraved. The pineapple is engraved w/ shell motif. Very nicely marbleized Circassian walnut buttstock measures 14-1/8″ over a long tang steel butt plate. Engraved w/ pigeon and scroll. Stock features sling eye, double beaded cheek piece, 16 LPI checkering w/ mullered borders, and a hinged spring loaded patch box engraved w/ hind and stag. Dove-tailed mahogany case has inset brass corners, hooks, and D-ring carrying handle. Interior is lined in green cloth w/ J. Purdey label and a 3/4″ paper dot glued into the bottom of the right compartment w/no. 1933 in ink. Accessories include rosewood BGI cleaning rod w/ mops and brushes, pair of replacement main springs, steel oil bottle, brass powder measure, bone bottle containing 2 spare nipples, a steel single cavity mold for truncated cone shaped bullet of .650 diameter marked “WD”, (William Davies), as well as a very fine rosewood bullet starting hammer-rammer, and its matching short starting ramrod, the end of the orig 2 pc cleaning rod, bag shaped unmarked powder flask for 1-1/2 drams, and a worm that screws into the tip of the ramrod. PROVENANCE: Purdey factory letter stating date of manufacture, and made for Mr. A. Gamarelle” CONDITION: Very fine. Bbls retain 60-70% of Damascus finish thinning over all w/ scattered pin prick pitting, heavy on the left side of breeches. Bores are fine, sharp strong rifling but w/ slight pitting. Ramrod quite good. Left lock retains 20-30% case color. Right lock 50-60%. Breech iron mostly silver gray, as are hammers. Trigger guard and safety lever retain 40-50% of their bright blue. Butt plate retains 50%+ of its bright blue. Patch box is silver brown. Stocks retain most of their original varnish w/ numerous nicks and dings from use. Case is very good, w/ numerous scratches and compressions, w/ cracked area to left rear of lid. Interior partitions are good, w/ one slightly loose. Orig cloth is intact, w/ some areas of abrasion from contact w/ rifle. Paper label has small area rubbed through from contact w/ lock screw, and a few stains, and rubs. Accessories are good, except flask has 1/8″ hole rusted through body and spare main springs have rust stains. A fine example of a double rifle from this period when single barreled rifles were the norm. L. Patrick Unsworth in his book “The Early Purdey’s” illustrates and lists this particular rifle w/ comment: “Of some rarity as it is fitted with the patent intercepting sears and grip safety. Cased with some accessories. At one time owned by Gordon Cumming family.” (R. Gordon Cumming wrote “A Hunter’s Life in South Africa in the 1850’s”). 4-35585 MGM49 (12,500-17,500)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2008

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
	1294	$5,750.00	EARLY J. PURDEY 14 BORE PERCUSSION DOUBLE RIFLE WITH PATENT SAFETY AND ORIGINAL CASE. SN 1933. Cal. .695 10 groove rifling. 28″ Stub twist bbls engraved “I. Purdey No. 314 1/2 Oxford Street. London.” and have one standing, two folding platinum lined rear sight, and inset steel front bead on wide flat rib. Bottoms of bbls are marked “J.P.”, have London proofs, and SN 1933″ (1831). The loop is stamped “W.C” Patent breeches are stamped w/ SN on the hooks, have vented platinum blow outs, and London view marks on the bottom. Ebony ramrod has brass ends and is stamped w/ no. “1933.” Lock plates fit tightly under the bbl bolsters and are engraved w/ well executed large open scroll, and are fitted w/ Purdey’s patent safety. Engraved “Purdey” and “Patent” under the safety pivot. Safety levers are engraved “safety.” Flat serpentine hammers are scroll engraved w/ dolphin heads and stylized dolphins where the safeties engage. Breech iron engraved w/ shaded open scroll, and a shell motif. Trigger guard has open scroll to match lock plates, and safety lever has “patent” engraved. The pineapple is engraved w/ shell motif. Very nicely marbleized Circassian walnut buttstock measures 14-1/8″ over a long tang steel butt plate. Engraved w/ pigeon and scroll. Stock features sling eye, double beaded cheek piece, 16 LPI checkering w/ mullered borders, and a hinged spring loaded patch box engraved w/ hind and stag. Dove-tailed mahogany case has inset brass corners, hooks, and D-ring carrying handle. Interior is lined in green cloth w/ J. Purdey label and a 3/4″ paper dot glued into the bottom of the right compartment w/no. 1933 in ink. Accessories include rosewood BGI cleaning rod w/ mops and brushes, pair of replacement main springs, steel oil bottle, brass powder measure, bone bottle containing 2 spare nipples, a steel single cavity mold for truncated cone shaped bullet of .650 diameter marked “WD”, (William Davies), as well as a very fine rosewood bullet starting hammer-rammer, and its matching short starting ramrod, the end of the orig 2 pc cleaning rod, bag shaped unmarked powder flask for 1-1/2 drams, and a worm that screws into the tip of the ramrod. PROVENANCE: Purdey factory letter stating date of manufacture, and made for Mr. A. Gamarelle” CONDITION: Very fine. Bbls retain 60-70% of Damascus finish thinning over all w/ scattered pin prick pitting, heavy on the left side of breeches. Bores are fine, sharp strong rifling but w/ slight pitting. Ramrod quite good. Left lock retains 20-30% case color. Right lock 50-60%. Breech iron mostly silver gray, as are hammers. Trigger guard and safety lever retain 40-50% of their bright blue. Butt plate retains 50%+ of its bright blue. Patch box is silver brown. Stocks retain most of their original varnish w/ numerous nicks and dings from use. Case is very good, w/ numerous scratches and compressions, w/ cracked area to left rear of lid. Interior partitions are good, w/ one slightly loose. Orig cloth is intact, w/ some areas of abrasion from contact w/ rifle. Paper label has small area rubbed through from contact w/ lock screw, and a few stains, and rubs. Accessories are good, except flask has 1/8″ hole rusted through body and spare main springs have rust stains. A fine example of a double rifle from this period when single barreled rifles were the norm. L. Patrick Unsworth in his book “The Early Purdey’s” illustrates and lists this particular rifle w/ comment: “Of some rarity as it is fitted with the patent intercepting sears and grip safety. Cased with some accessories. At one time owned by Gordon Cumming family.” (R. Gordon Cumming wrote “A Hunter’s Life in South Africa in the 1850’s”). 4-35585 MGM49 (12,500-17,500) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2008 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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