Product Details
THE STOCK, ACTION AND FORE-END ONLY OF A J. PURDEY 12-BORE 1863 PATENT (FIRST PATTERN) PUSH-FORWARD UNDERLEVER HAMMERGUN, serial no. 6900, for 1865, carved percussion fences, non-rebounding back-action locks, underlever spring absent, traces of fine acanthus scrollwork remaining, 13 7/8in. stock (some cracking and damage) including steel buttplate, fore-end worn, light damage to crosspin release escutcheons
Provenance: No. 6900
Completed: 1865
For: E. Deacon
Description: A double-barrelled pinfire hammer gun
Weight: 6lb. 15oz.
Calibre: 12-bore
Barrels: 30in. Damascus
Choke: Both Cylinder
Stock: 14 3/8in.
Notes:
Purdey patent thumb-lever
The vendor has kindly supplied us with the following:
I was told by my grandfather a Mr Bertie Willie Kendall, Monroe House, Sible Hedingham, Essex, that the above shotgun came from a Lieutenant Colonel Edmund Deacon living at Sloe House, Halstead. He was born in 1872 and was killed in action at Ypres on 13 May 1915 aged 43.
The story as told to me is that Bert Kendall was born in 1890 of a single parent living with his mother's family at Forrey Green, Sible Hedingham and of poor means. Bert was always about in the surrounding countryside and known by most people for odd jobs i.e. holding hunt horses etc. so he possibly would have been in Edmund Deacons presence sometimes. Anyway Bertie claims he found an unknown fox hole and told Edmund Deacon (I do not know how) who asked to be shown its location. He being the Master of the East Essex Hunt. A meeting was arranged, Bertie setting off on foot carrying his only treasured possession a 410 shotgun and Edmund followed on riding a horse. During this journey the horse was spooked and knocked Bertie over breaking the 410's stock and bending the barrel. Bert admitted he burst into tears as he now had nothing to his name. The Colonel said "stop crying Kendall and come to Sloe House this evening and I will give you a gun". Apparently Bertie was offered the selected Purdey above, from a cased set. This must have happened well before WWI as both men served in this conflict.
Bert's gun was well known in the area, ever after, for it's loud report "the game died of shock rather than lead".
Fast forward to late 1950's when I, as a young man found the gun hanging on two rusty nails in the 'steamer shed' at my grandfather's pig farm (pig swill had to be cooked in those days). Upon looking at the rusty cobwebby gun I found the main spring missing, asked Bert about it and he said that it had broken in two was somewhere about. I never did find it, and wrote to Purdey about getting a replacement. They answered saying for 15 guineas they would look at the gun and give me a condition report. This letter has been lost in the mist of time. I could not afford this being but a young man. I looked at the rusty lump and put it back on its nails. Sometime later I did clean and oil the old girl and it went of the wall of the first and second of my houses. My wife then objected so I oiled and wrapped it up, stored it in the loft, and has been there ever since.
I can state that the above information is true as to the best of my knowledge.
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Estimate £300-500
S2 - Sold as a Section 2 Firearm under the 1968 Firearms Act
Please note that guns sold as Stock, Action and Fore-end only are sold without barrels. The original barrels may be available for sleeving purposes, but will only be released cut in the approved manner as per Proof House guidelines. Please note there is a charge of £10 per item for this service.