2120 J. PURDEY NO. 1597 AN IMPORTANT DOUBLE PERCUSSION

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[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2026 Nov 07 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 2,000.00 USD
Estimated at 4,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD
GAME GUN OWNED BY THE MANIGAULT FAMILY OF CHARLESTON S. CAROLINA WITH ORIGINAL CASE, ACCESSORIES & FACTORY LETTER. Cal. 16 Bore. S# 1597. This very interesting gun has ledger entry indicating it was built in 1828 for a Mr. Briggshurst (?) entry is crossed out. At this time James Purdey would dispose of his extra on hand inventory through his son-in-law Joseph Lang. It appears this gun was retailed through Lang as his very rare trade card is tacked to the bottom of case compartment lid. Case also contains a tin marked "Langs" "Copper Caps" "7 Haymarket" "London". Gun has 30" fine damascus barrels fitted with elevated game rib engraved "I. Purdey No 314 1/2 Oxford Street London". Bottoms of barrels are stamped with S#s, London proofs and "JP". Patent breeches with S#s on hooks are fitted with platinum vented blowouts and original ring turned nipples marked "R" & "L". Platinum lines are at rear and rib extension is engraved with scroll. Correct ebony ramrod with brass tip and tail (worm under cap) is marked with this guns S# 2" behind tip and is held by two plain pipes. Breech iron is near fully engraved with very nicely cut open shaded scroll. Bar locks with tall flat faced serpentine hammers having dolphin heads are fitted with rare Wyatt's patent intercepting safetys with grip release. Locks and hammers have sparse open scroll engraving and with "PURDEY" at center and "PATENT" under each safety pivot. Safetys are engraved "SAFETY". Trigger plate incorporates the remainder of the safety system with pivoting lever that must be gripped before safetys disengage. This lever is engraved "PATENT". Trigger plate has stylized pineapple type finial. Central area is engraved in shell pattern. Trigger guard has large open scroll on bow. Stock made of stump figured European walnut with some marbling measures 14-3/8" over checkered steel buttplate with long scroll engraved top tang. Stock features swept double shadow line right hand cheekpiece, flat top checkering at grip and a rectangular silver crest plate at top of grip engraved with Manigault Coat of Arms, depicting Native American with bow and arrows over the initials "CIM" (?). Thimble is scroll engraved and stock attaches to barrels with captive sidebolt through oval steel escutcheons. MEASUREMENTS: BBLS: Bore Diameter: L .658. R .658. Restriction: L .000. R .000. STOCK: DAH: 2-1/4". DAC: 1-1/2". CAST: neutral. LOP: 14-3/8". WEIGHT: 6 lb. 3 oz. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: gun is housed in its original quartered mahogany case with duel hook fastening and inlet circular "D" ring handle. Top is inked in "C. Manigault" under handle. Interior is lined in green cloth and has blue printed Purdey label in lid inscribed "Charles I. Manigault London August 1830" along top edge. Also tacked into lid is a Purdey Factory Letter dated 1928 with information that gun was built in 1828 and the price was 55 pounds. Signed for J. Purdey & Sons by "T.P." (Tom Purdey). Bottom compartment has paper dot inscribed with this guns S# under lift-out mahogany box with ivory knob containing perforated felt wads and a small glass bottle. Large covered compartment with bone knob on cover and afore mentioned Lang trade card tacked to bottom holds correct tin bodied powder flask by Sykes with brass top and copper seams. A German silver circular capper, three unmarked steel double compartment pocket charging tubes, and a paper envelope inscribed "Small screw to make grip safety inoperable". Open compartment contains afore mentioned Lang cap container, rare Purdey type dimpled wad punch marked with this guns S# and "S.A", a hand blown glass oil bottle with pontil mark on bottom, ebony handled nipple wrench with pricker, turn screw, and nipple jag. Case also contains two piece rosewood and brass cleaning rod as well as the original key. Recent Purdey Factory Letter indicating date of completion and ledger listing copied on back. CONDITION: good; original "as found". Family history relates that this gun was liberated from the up river mansion house during the Civil War and returned at a later date. It seems that during its vacation it acquired some condition issues with barrels retaining a fair amount of original finish under considerable overall pitting that shows areas of cleaning to silver gray. Other steel parts also show cleaning to pewter gray with smooth dark brown remaining on locks. Engraving remains clear. Stock retains most of its original finish with a considerable number of marks and scratches overall with a 3"x4" triangle of marks and rubs on right side of butt. Checkering shows considerable wear. Bores are fine, shiny throughout; lightly frosted. Mechanically fine with crisp locks and working safety system. Exterior of case is very good to fine with marks, rubs and scratches in its original finish with minor loss at right corner of lid. Interior cloth is fair to good with some insect and moisture damage. Purdey label is somewhat tattered and foxed. Factory letter is foxed. Bottom partitions are good having minor repair with new cloth in barrel channel. Bottom cloth shows heavy soiling and dust throughout. Accessories are generally fine. An incredible and important piece of history regarding both Purdey's and the Manigault Family. PROVENANCE: Malcolm G. MacGregor Collection. (01-28999/MGM). ANTIQUE. $4,000-10,000.