2132 JAMES PURDEY NO. 18499 A RARE HAMMER EJECTOR GAME

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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 5,000.00 USD
Estimated at 10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD
GUN NO. 8 IN THE BATTERY OF THE EARL OF PORTSMOUTH WITH CASE, ACCESSORIES & FACTORY LETTERS & PHOTOCOPY OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE EARL. Cal. 12 Ga. 2-1/2". S# 18499. It has been estimated that Purdey's only made about 50 hammer guns that were fitted with ejectors. This gun completed in 1905 for the Earl of Portsmouth is listed as "Hammer Back action Ejector". It presently has 28" dovetailed barrels engraved "New Barrels by G. Bate, Gunmaker, Birmingham" on narrow swamped game rib. Barrel flats are stamped with Birmingham nitro proofs for 1-1/8 oz shot. Bate No. 3579 is on splinter. Round bodied case hardened top lever action is fitted with island back spring locks having tall serpentine hammers. Action and locks are engraved with Purdey house style rose & scroll. "J. Purdey & Sons" is on each lockplate. Top lever is engraved "8" as noted in record. Trigger guard has open scroll on bow and S# on tang. Buttstock made of a striking piece of dark marbled and stump figured European walnut measures 14-3/8" over ancient leather covered Silver pad. Flat top point pattern checkering is around grip and toeline is fitted with gold oval engraved with an Earl's crown over "P". Matching splinter Wem ejector forend with Anson release is stamped with actioner's initial "S" (Most likely Fred Smith.). MEASUREMENTS: BBLS: Bore Diameter: L .734. R .731. Restriction: L .044 (Full). R .027 (IMod). Wall Thickness: L .026. R .022. STOCK: DAH: 2-1/8". DAC: 1-1/2". CAST: about 1/2" off. LOP: 14-3/8". WEIGHT: 6 lb. 6 oz. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: gun is housed in its original oak and leather case with brass corners and central medallion. Case is lined in scarlet cloth and has small Purdey paper label in lid; lightly inscribed "Bate". Case contains rare Purdey marked two piece rosewood and brass cleaning rod with short handle section, square oil bottle, broken case extractor, and snap caps. Other accessories include: a horn handled chamber brush, pull through cleaning kit, small glass bottle resembling a shot shell holding a spare striker, along with exterior case straps. A 2004 dated Purdey Factory Letter with specifications and 2 page photocopy from "Debertts Peerage" with info on the Earl of Portsmouth. Also recent Purdey Factory Letter with ledger listing copied on back. CONDITION: very good "as found" replacement barrels retaining over 80% of their original blue (original barrels were 30"). Action and locks retain traces of their original case hardening color where protected and present an overall smooth silver gray appearance. Most loss is probably fading as top lever retains over 80% original charcoal blue and trigger guard has perhaps 20% original blue. Stocks retain most of what appears to be their original oil finish with many light marks, dings and scratches. Checkering is nicely re-cut. Leather covering of pad shows wear through to red rubber at heal and toe. Bores are very fine; bright and shiny with a few very minor dents on side of left barrel. Action is tight; barrels on face. Locks are crisp; ejectors are in time. Case leather is dark with many scratches, rubs and bumps. Straps and handle are good. Interior cloth is good; darkened overall with considerable soiling from action and barrels. Accessories are good. Only a handful of hammer ejectors are known, you could be the only kid on your block... PROVENANCE: Malcolm G. MacGregor Collection. (26-1013/MGM). CURIO. $10,000-15,000.