2234 BEST QUALITY PLAIN FINISH JAMES PURDEY BAR-IN-WOOD

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[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2025 Oct 31 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 2,500.00 USD
Estimated at 5,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
HAMMER GUN WITH SCARCE DAW LEVER ACTION. Cal. 12 Ga. 2-3/4". S# 10321. Many feel that the bar-in-wood hammer gun is the most elegant breechloading shotgun ever produced. Other people believe that the addition of engraving on a fine gun only hides the evidence of fine gunmaking. This best, plain finish gun has 30" three striped Damascus barrels engraved "J. Purdey & Sons 314 1/2 Oxford Street. London." on very narrow swamped game rib. Rear portion of rib is engraved "CHOKE". Barrel flats are stamped with London black powder proofs "NOT FOR BALL" and with chokes "12B 13M" both barrels. Chambers measure 2-3/4" and do not appear to have been lengthened. Bar-in-wood action has fences filed in best quality manner and is fitted with front spring locks having serpentine rebounding hammers. Action has Purdey type underbolts actuated by a lever over guard of a type the factory refers to as "Daw lever" which gives superior hand access compared to either the normal top lever or the, popular at the time, "thumb hole". Action, locks and hammers are unengraved except for maker's name on each lockplate and "Patent" on top. Trigger plate has ball finial and trigger guard is engraved with S# on tang. Bar-in-wood buttstock, so called because wood runs under lockplates almost all the way to the hinge pin covering most of the action bar (structural part connecting hinge and standing breech); made of well marbled and stump figured European walnut measures 14-7/8" over 2-3/4" lengthening piece fitted to the original curve of the stock (consignor states factory records indicate this gun was originally made with approx. 12-1/2" LOP). This lengthening piece is exceptionally well fitted and grain matches very well. Butt is correctly shaped and nicely checkered in correct Purdey fashion. Point pattern checkering is at grip and a silver oval on toeline is monogrammed "CFB" (?). Oval is set at the usual distance of approx. 3" from original toe of stock. Matching splinter forend has Anson release. MEASUREMENTS: BBLS: Bore Diameter: L .730. R .731. Restriction: L .027 (IMod). R .025 IMod). Wall thickness: L .024. R .026. STOCK: DAH: 2-3/16". DAC: 1-1/2". CAST: about 1/2" off. LOP: 14-7/8". WEIGHT: 7 lb. 7 oz. CONDITION: very good to fine. Barrels retaining most of their original brown with scattered light pin prick pitting mostly at carry point. Action and lockplates retain a good amount, perhaps 40% case hardening color, the remainder a smooth mottled brown. Trigger guard retains some original bright blue mostly where protected by lever. Stocks retain their original surfaces having added oil with addition of lengthening piece. Checkering shows considerable wear especially on forend. Bar-in-wood guns are notorious for stock problems especially around action; this example is exceptionally good without any noted cracks or other problems. Forend shows some minor chipping and loss of wood along edges. Bores are mostly bright and smooth with some minor pitting evident in right barrel toward breech end and dent removal also in right barrel about 14" from muzzle. Action is tight. Barrels on face. Locks are crisp. Screw slots show little use. This gun should make a great shooter. (01-27222/MGM). ANTIQUE. $5,000-8,000.