2198 SUPERB CONDITION JAMES PURDEY HAMMER

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This item SOLD at 2023 May 13 @ 12:57UTC-4 : AST/EDT
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 5,000.00 USD
Estimated at 10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD

DOUBLE RIFLE WITH ORIGINAL CASE AND FINE ACCESSORIES INCLUDING TWO BULLET MOULDS. Cal. 450 BPE. S# 11132. (CA 1882). Purdey records indicate that a total of 640 hammer double rifles were produced between 1857 and 2014. Most saw hard service and are in less than pristine condition. This superb rifle has 26" dovetailed steel barrels fitted with full length file cut rib holding single standing leaf express rear sight and white bead front. Unmatted portion of rib is engraved "J. Purdey & Sons. 314 1/2 Oxford Street. London." Barrel flats are stamped with London black powder proofs. Bottom of barrels are stamped with barrel maker's initials "A.M." (most likely A. Meers). A sling eye is soldered to bottom rib. Round bodied top lever action featuring side clips and hidden third fastener; is fitted with peninsula back spring locks with rebounding round bodied serpentine hammers having stylized dolphin heads. Locks are also fitted with front sliding stalking safeties. Action and locks are engraved with about 80% coverage, very small well cut scroll and rose bouquets, most likely the work of Purdey head engraver, James Lucas. Scroll engraved top lever and trigger guard are blued, S# is on trigger guard tang which extends to case hardened and engraved grip cap. Capped pistol grip buttstock of very attractive dark marbled and stump figured European walnut measures 14" over black leather faced Silver pad. Point pattern checkering wraps over top of grip and a sling eye is on toeline along with a silver oval engraved with monogram "L. C." (?). Matching short splinter forend has Anson release. Iron is stamped with a star (unknown actioners mark). MEASUREMENTS: STOCK: DAH: approx. 2 3/8". DAC: approx. 1 3/4". CAST: about 1/4" on. LOP: 14". WEIGHT: 8 lb. 3 oz. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: rifle is housed in its original oak and leather case with brass corners and central medallion engraved with the same monogram as on silver oval. Interior is lined in scarlet cloth, and lid has two labels, one is a charge card for this rifle, the other is a small paper Purdey label with 314 1/2 crossed out and 289 engraved in. This was obviously done by an engraver and this is a printed label not just an inked in change of address. The City Council of London renumbered Oxford Street in 1882. Purdey's moved to Audley House in 1883; making this an exceptionally rare Purdey label not previously described. Case contains 2 steel bullet moulds marked with this rifles S#, one casting a solid pointed projectile with grease grooves, the other casts a bullet for paper patch and has hole for hollow pointing pin. Also included is a Purdey marked bullet seating tool, unmarked loading rod, powder measure for 4 1/4 drams, striker key, Dixon broken cartridge extractor, 2 piece short handle section cleaning rod, a covered compartment holds some cleaning brushes, spare lock pins, and a leather wallet with oiler and 8 firing pins. CONDITION: exceptionally fine, lightly refinished, showing negligible wear and only a few marks on all factory type finishes, most notably a 1/8" square ding on breech end of left barrel. Another small sharp dent is at point of checkering on left side of lockplate and a minor dent in checkering on left side of forend. Bores are bright and shiny throughout, action is tight, locks are crisp. Case leather is dry and dark, with many bumps and rubs, straps are missing, handle is partially detached. Interior cloth is good, with many bumps and rubs, soiled from contact with barrels. Some partitions and blocking moved and restored with cloth that does not quite match. Accessories are very fine, moulds still retaining their bright polish. (01-21931/MGM). ANTIQUE. $10,000-15,000.