Product Details
** J. PURDEY & SONS
A PAIR OF 12-BORE SELF-OPENING SIDELOCK EJECTOR PIGEON GUNS, serial no. 25977 / 8,
28in. nitro chopperlump barrels, the ribs engraved '1' and '2' and 'J. PURDEY & SONS. AUDLEY HOUSE. SOUTH AUDLEY STREET. LONDON. ENGLAND.', the left tubes engraved 'ENGLAND.', 2 3/4in. chambers, bored approx. 3/4 and full choke (both), self-opening treble-grip actions with sideclips, removable striker discs, toplevers engraved '1' and '2', automatic safeties with gold-inlaid 'SAFE' details, cocking-indicators, bouquet and acanthus scroll engraving, brushed and blued finish, 15in. stocks, weight 6lb. 15oz., in their leather double guncase
Provenance: The makers have kindly informed us that this pair was completed in June 1947 for Count L. Potocki. The guns were ordered with "3rd grip and clips" at a cost of £240 per gun. The cost of a standard gun in this period was £150.
The Potocki family was one of the prominent noble Polish families in the Kingdom of Poland.
The vendor informs us that this pair was purchased from the heirs of Comte Guillaume de Loriol many years ago. The pair is accompanied by import paperwork dated 1948 with de Loriol's name, so it is very possible that the guns changed ownership shortly after they were collected by Count Potocki. Indeed, there are indications in the Purdey records that the two men had a strong connection.
Comte de Loriol was a member of the live pigeon shooting club of Monaco. The family lived in Chateaux d'Allaman in Canton Vaud until the early 1970's, when the property became a public / private estate and crowned a 'Grade 1 property of National value and importance'. Today it is an important vineyard which produces some of the finest wines of the region
** Please note this item is subject to 20% VAT on the hammer price.
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Estimate £18,000-22,000
(USD 23,322-28,505)
(EUR 19,973-24,412)
Currency exchange rates are based on various public sources, are provided for information purposes only, and are not verified as accurate.
S2 - Sold as a Section 2 Firearm under the 1968 Firearms Act