Product Details
J. PURDEY & SONS
A PAIR OF 12-BORE SELF-OPENING SIDELOCK EJECTORS, serial no. 19103 / 4,
for 1907, 30in. Whitworth-steel nitro chopperlump barrels, the ribs engraved 'J. PURDEY & SONS. AUDLEY HOUSE, SOUTH AUDLEY STREET, LONDON. MADE OF SIR JOSEPH WHITWORTH'S FLUID PRESSED STEEL', and gold-inlaid '1' and '2' at the breech ends, 2 1/2in. chambers, bored approx. imp. cyl. and 3/4 choke, No.2 bore dimensions marginal, self-opening actions with removable striker discs, toplevers gold-inlaid '1' and '2', automatic safeties with gold-inlaid 'SAFE' details, arrow cocking-indicators, the fences finely carved in high relief in bold rococo style with acanthus and floral motifs on a finely matted background, fine acanthus scroll engraving with floral bouquets, retaining very slight traces of original colour-hardening, 14 1/4in. highly-figured stocks, the fore-ends inset in gold with '1' and '2', weight 6lb. 9oz., in their brass-cornered oak and leather case with canvas and leather outer
Provenance: We are kindly informed by the makers that the guns were originally made for an F.H. Aarons in 1907 and resold by them in 1929 to a Major J. Kerr.
The fences were deeply carved by Walter Warren who started engraving for James Purdey in 1870 and was awarded a Gold by the Royal Academy of Engravers
Estimate £20,000-22,000
S2 - Sold as a Section 2 Firearm under the 1968 Firearms Act