Product Details
J. PURDEY
A CASED EARLY PATTERN 12-BORE ROTARY-UNDERLEVER PINFIRE DOUBLE-BARRELLED SPORTING GUN, serial no. 5552,
31 1/4in. black powder only bold damascus barrels, the rib engraved 'J. PURDEY. 314 1/2 OXFORD STREET. LONDON.', unusual lever over guard rotary-underlever with ring tip and single-bite screw grip, square back triggerguard, ultra slim standing breech with carved serpentine fences, elongated top strap, back-action locks with fine flat side dolphin hammers, fine border and acanthus scroll engraving, the lockplates signed 'PURDEY', brushed finish overall, 15in. well-figured stock (repaired cracks to underhorns) with steel buttplate, fore-end with cross-bolt fastener, weight 7lb. 2oz., in a leather bound two tiered case, removable oak tray for the gun with provision for cartridges on the bottom tier, Purdey trade label with comprehensive contemporary hand written notes relating to the requisite powder, shot and the method of reloading cartridges
Provenance: The makers have kindly provided us with the following information:
Completed: 1859
For: Captain Robert Nicholson
Description: A double-barrelled pinfire gun
Weight: [Not Recorded]
Calibre: 12-bore
Barrels: 32in.
Choke: Both Cylinder
Stock: 15in.
Literature: In L. Patrick Unsworth's 'The Early Purdey's' the gun is listed as having been built with 32in. barrels as 'Pinfire, back-action locks; square-backed trigger-guard with a rotating bolt and underlever curving over the trigger-guard. The leather covered oak case lined in red baize and with an under-tray to carry cartridges'. It is noted as having been sold (perhaps should be ordered) on the 27th November 1858 at a cost of £57. 15. 0
In his book 'James Purdey & Sons, Gun and Rifle Makers' Donald Dallas notes the first actual sale of a pinfire breech loader recorded is No. 5462 earlier the same year, on the 3rd May 1858.
See Appendix 3: Shotguns, page 252 from L. Patrick Unsworth's book 'The Early Purdey's'
See pages 154-157 in Geoffrey Boothroyd's 'The Shotgun History and Development'
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Estimate £3,000-5,000
Sold as an exempt item under Section 58 (2) of the 1968 Firearms Act, to be held as a curiosity or ornament