Product Details
MADE FOR THE PARIS EXHIBITION
J. PURDEY & SONS
A FINE PAIR OF 12-BORE TOPLEVER HAMMER EJECTOR GUNS, serial no. 13213 / 4,
30in. nitro reproved Whitworth-steel chopperlump barrels (nitro proved by the maker's in the 1950's), the ribs engraved 'J. PURDEY & SONS. AUDLEY HOUSE. SOUTH AUDLEY STREET. LONDON.', and '1' and '2' at the breech ends, 2 1/2in. chambers, bored approx. true cyl. and 1/2 choke, (No.1 light pits and small dent), treble-grip actions with hidden third bites, carved percussion fences, rebounding back-action island locks with central side nails, Henry Holland & John Robertson patent ejectors, patent no. 11623 of 26th August 1887, (possible contemporary conversions) the actions, lockplates and furniture with extra fine floral and scroll engraving, retaining very slight traces of original colour-hardening, 14in. highly-figured exhibition grade stocks, fore-ends with engraved Anson push rod releases, (small crack to fore-end wood No.2), weight 6lb. 8oz., in their brass-cornered oak and leather case
Provenance: The makers have kindly supplied us with the following:
No. 13213/4
Completed: 30th July 1889
For: Col. Paget Mosley
Description: A pair of toplever backlock hammer guns
Weight: 6lb. 10oz.
Calibre: 12-bore
Barrels: 30in. Whitworth Steel
Choke: Plain & Modified
Stock: 14 3/8 1/32
Notes:
Made for the Paris Exhibition
Actions with 3rd grips
Stocks with gold ovals
Extra scroll engraving
Mosley noted as deceased, February 1917
21/3/1944: Offered to us by letter
Nitro proofed by us, c.1950s
Though not recorded as hammer ejector guns in the records, the presence of the central side nail to the lockplates (rather than the usual forward location) would suggest that the guns were built with ejectors in mind. The Holland Robertson system can also be found on Boss hammer ejectors of the time.
Col. Paget Mosley is likely to refer to Lt. Col. John Edward Paget Mosley (1841 - 1917) of the Bengal Staff Corps, later to sit on the board of directors of The Singer Cycle Company from 1896 to 1902
Exhibited: The Exposition Universelle 1889 was held in Paris with the freshly completed Eiffel Tower forming the entrance to the World Fair site. Thirty five countries were represented at the fair, designed to showcase scientific and technological advances - but also with a nod to the past, with exhibits including prehistoric subjects and a theme to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the storming of the Bastille. This immense event attracted a recorded 32,250,297 visitors over the six month opening period.
Manuel Lopo de Carvalho Collection
Other Notes: For a short biography of Mr Manuel Lopo de Carvalho please click HERE
Please click HERE to view Terms & Conditions.
Estimate £16,000-20,000
S2 - Sold as a Section 2 Firearm under the 1968 Firearms Act