*VERY FINE PAIR OF PURDEY SINGLE BARREL TRAP GUNS WITH CASES.

*VERY FINE PAIR OF PURDEY SINGLE BARREL TRAP GUNS WITH CASES. SN 27165/ 27166. (ca. 1964) Cal. 12 Ga. 2-3/4″ Chambers. 32″ barrels with raised file cut ventilated ribs are engraved “J. Purdey & Sons. Audley House. South Audley Street. London. England.” on left sides. Rear portion of tops of ribs are inlaid in gold with “Constructed by Harry Lawrence”, and with nos. “1” or “2”. Bbl flats show London nitro proofs for 2-3/4″ chambers. Bottoms of bbls are stamped “Purdey” with SNs, and initials “A.H” (Alf Harvey, noted Purdey barrel maker). Harry Lawrence was apprenticed to Purdey’s in 1914, and retired as managing director in 1970. In 1964, the approximate time of the building of these guns, an article describing him was in SHOOTING TIMES, and reads “Lawrence is managing director not only in name, but in deeds. He is at the factory at 8 o’clock every morning to deal with any technical problems or points awaiting his decision. He still retains his own bench there, and takes both a personal and if need be, an active part in the day to day work of the factory … Lawrence’s daily visit to the factory is however only the beginning of his day. At about 11 o’clock he arrives at Audley House and his day’s work there is rarely finished before 7 PM. After 50 years work, one cannot but feel admiration for such sustained devotion to the gunmakers craft the name of Purdey and all that it stands for.” (His initials H.L, as actioner, are on forend iron of gun no. 27165.) Beesley patent self-opening actions are fitted with left hand locks (in place of the right locks there are dummy sideplates). Fences are nicely sculpted. Locks are fitted with H & H type hand detachable pins, which is unusual for Purdey. Blued trigger guards have tangs that extend to grip caps, with SN at grips. Top levers are inlaid in gold with “1” or “2”. Actions and lockplates are engraved with well cut Purdey house style rose bouquet and scroll. Bottom action of gun no. “1” is engraved “J. Purdey & Sons London”; no. “2” with “J. Purdey & Sons. London England”. There is a note in one of the cases stating that one of the guns was engraved by Ken Hunt, and looks to be Ken Hunt’s actual signature. The engraving on the two guns is definitely by two different hands. Gun no. “2” is more finely cut and detailed, and is more than likely the work of Mr. Hunt. Wood of gun no. “1” is nicely flesh-toned, beautifully marbled and full fiddle, almost flame, figured Circassian walnut. Gun no. “2” wood is somewhat darker, more streaked than marbled, with fiddle figure not as pronounced. Full pistol grip buttstocks measure 14-1/2″ over dark brown leather covered pads, and feature Monte Carlo combs, hard rubber grip caps, drop points, and 22 LPI checkering, partially borderless with points and base borders mullered. Matching full rounded ejector forends have Anson releases. Gun no. 27165 “1”: Bore diameter: .730. Bore restrictions: .026. Wall thickness: .057. Drop at heel: 2-1/4″, drop at comb: 1-5/8″. Weight: 7 lbs. 15 oz, LOP 14-1/2″. Gun no. 27166 “2”: Bore diameter: .732. Bore restrictions: .019. Wall thickness: .057. Drop at heel: 2-1/4″, drop at comb: 1-5/8″. Weight: 7 lbs. 15.7 oz, LOP 14-1/2″. Makers oak and leather cases with brass corners and central medallion on lids, have canvas and leather outer covers. Interiors are lined with maroon cloth with black leather gold-embossed Purdey labels. There is a charge card in case for gun no. 27165. Accessories include 2-pc cleaning rods, horn-handled turnscrew, striker key and stuck-case remover, oil bottles, snap caps, and spare striker bottles with strikers. Snap caps are Purdey marked, as is one of the oil bottles. There are Purdey marked red leather wallets containing cleaning equipment, keys, etc., and another leather wallet containing main spring and top spring in one case. Each case has a black morocco wallet containing pull-through cleaning equipment. Case for gun no. “2” has a piece of cardboard dated 5/ 28/ 97 that says engraver is K. C. Hunt. Accessories for gun no. “1” are in blue felt bags. CONDITION: Excellent, with very little evidence of use, showing only slight silvering on takedown pins and thumbpieces of top levers. Gun no. “2” shows perhaps a bit more use than gun no. “1”. Cases are excellent. Leather is well protected by outer covers, which show some wear and numerous tears, with some straps detached and buckles missing. Interiors are excellent, as are accessories. An exceptionally fine pair of guns, made by some of Purdey’s most esteemed craftsmen. The firm has only produced 59 single barrel trap guns, the last in 1974. 4-40902 MGM147 (45,000-60,000)

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
	1383	$0.00	VERY FINE PAIR OF PURDEY SINGLE BARREL TRAP GUNS WITH CASES. SN 27165/ 27166. (ca. 1964) Cal. 12 Ga. 2-3/4″ Chambers. 32″ barrels with raised file cut ventilated ribs are engraved “J. Purdey & Sons. Audley House. South Audley Street. London. England.” on left sides. Rear portion of tops of ribs are inlaid in gold with “Constructed by Harry Lawrence”, and with nos. “1” or “2”. Bbl flats show London nitro proofs for 2-3/4″ chambers. Bottoms of bbls are stamped “Purdey” with SNs, and initials “A.H” (Alf Harvey, noted Purdey barrel maker). Harry Lawrence was apprenticed to Purdey’s in 1914, and retired as managing director in 1970. In 1964, the approximate time of the building of these guns, an article describing him was in SHOOTING TIMES, and reads “Lawrence is managing director not only in name, but in deeds. He is at the factory at 8 o’clock every morning to deal with any technical problems or points awaiting his decision. He still retains his own bench there, and takes both a personal and if need be, an active part in the day to day work of the factory … Lawrence’s daily visit to the factory is however only the beginning of his day. At about 11 o’clock he arrives at Audley House and his day’s work there is rarely finished before 7 PM. After 50 years work, one cannot but feel admiration for such sustained devotion to the gunmakers craft the name of Purdey and all that it stands for.” (His initials H.L, as actioner, are on forend iron of gun no. 27165.) Beesley patent self-opening actions are fitted with left hand locks (in place of the right locks there are dummy sideplates). Fences are nicely sculpted. Locks are fitted with H & H type hand detachable pins, which is unusual for Purdey. Blued trigger guards have tangs that extend to grip caps, with SN at grips. Top levers are inlaid in gold with “1” or “2”. Actions and lockplates are engraved with well cut Purdey house style rose bouquet and scroll. Bottom action of gun no. “1” is engraved “J. Purdey & Sons London”; no. “2” with “J. Purdey & Sons. London England”. There is a note in one of the cases stating that one of the guns was engraved by Ken Hunt, and looks to be Ken Hunt’s actual signature. The engraving on the two guns is definitely by two different hands. Gun no. “2” is more finely cut and detailed, and is more than likely the work of Mr. Hunt. Wood of gun no. “1” is nicely flesh-toned, beautifully marbled and full fiddle, almost flame, figured Circassian walnut. Gun no. “2” wood is somewhat darker, more streaked than marbled, with fiddle figure not as pronounced. Full pistol grip buttstocks measure 14-1/2″ over dark brown leather covered pads, and feature Monte Carlo combs, hard rubber grip caps, drop points, and 22 LPI checkering, partially borderless with points and base borders mullered. Matching full rounded ejector forends have Anson releases. Gun no. 27165 “1”: Bore diameter: .730. Bore restrictions: .026. Wall thickness: .057. Drop at heel: 2-1/4″, drop at comb: 1-5/8″. Weight: 7 lbs. 15 oz, LOP 14-1/2″. Gun no. 27166 “2”: Bore diameter: .732. Bore restrictions: .019. Wall thickness: .057. Drop at heel: 2-1/4″, drop at comb: 1-5/8″. Weight: 7 lbs. 15.7 oz, LOP 14-1/2″. Makers oak and leather cases with brass corners and central medallion on lids, have canvas and leather outer covers. Interiors are lined with maroon cloth with black leather gold-embossed Purdey labels. There is a charge card in case for gun no. 27165. Accessories include 2-pc cleaning rods, horn-handled turnscrew, striker key and stuck-case remover, oil bottles, snap caps, and spare striker bottles with strikers. Snap caps are Purdey marked, as is one of the oil bottles. There are Purdey marked red leather wallets containing cleaning equipment, keys, etc., and another leather wallet containing main spring and top spring in one case. Each case has a black morocco wallet containing pull-through cleaning equipment. Case for gun no. “2” has a piece of cardboard dated 5/ 28/ 97 that says engraver is K. C. Hunt. Accessories for gun no. “1” are in blue felt bags. CONDITION: Excellent, with very little evidence of use, showing only slight silvering on takedown pins and thumbpieces of top levers. Gun no. “2” shows perhaps a bit more use than gun no. “1”. Cases are excellent. Leather is well protected by outer covers, which show some wear and numerous tears, with some straps detached and buckles missing. Interiors are excellent, as are accessories. An exceptionally fine pair of guns, made by some of Purdey’s most esteemed craftsmen. The firm has only produced 59 single barrel trap guns, the last in 1974. 4-40902 MGM147 (45,000-60,000) 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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