Product Details
JAMES PURDEY, LONDON
A CASED PAIR OF 50-BORE PERCUSSION RIFLED TARGET PISTOLS, serial no's. 2078 & 9,
for 1832, with browned damascus 9 1/2in. octagonal sighted barrels each with multi-groove rifling and signed 'J. PURDEY. 314 1/2 OXFORD STREET. LONDON' and numbered '1' and '2' respectively at breech, dove-tailed bead fore-sights, standing notch rear-sights, colour hardened patent squared breeches each with engraved pierced platinum plug and line, scroll engraved tangs also numbered '1' and '2' respectively, borderline and scroll engraved bar-action locks signed 'PURDEY', scroll engraved hammers with detachable noses and rear-mounted bolted safes, figured walnut half-stocks each with swept chequered grips, iron pommels with raised flanges each engraved with scrollwork, single set triggers, scroll engraved trigger-guards each with pineapple finial and possibly later applied finger-spurs, silver escutcheons engraved with griffons and oval barrel-bolt escutcheons, starburst engraved moulded iron fore-end caps with no provision for a ramrod, and some original faded finish throughout, London proof marks, in their maker's fitted walnut case lined and compartmented in green baize, the inside of lid with parchment trade label, with some accessories including a Britannia metal three-way powder-flask by James Dixon, a turnscrew, nipple-key, ebony nipple pot and a later loading rod
Provenance: These pistols were completed on the 9th October 1832 for retail through Joseph Lang, London.
Literature: In his book 'British Gunmakers Vol.1', Nigel Brown mentions that Joseph Lang took delivery of 84 guns, rifles and pistols on sale or return from Purdey's between 1830 and 1834, all of which were quickly sold. Lang's relationship with the Purdey family was close - he married one of James Purdey's daughters, making the younger James Purdey his brother-in-law
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Estimate £15,000-20,000