Product Details
J. PURDEY
A 12-BORE 1863 PATENT (FIRST PATTERN) THUMBHOLE-UNDERLEVER HAMMERGUN, serial no. 7183,
for 1866, 30in. black powder only bold damascus barrels, rib engraved 'J. PURDEY , 314 1/2 OXFORD STREET. LONDON.', 2 1/2in. chambers, bored approx. true cyl. in both, pitted, action with slender carved serpentine fences, non-rebounding back-action locks with flat side short nose dolphin hammers, the breasts of the hammers striking linked firing pins, part of Purdey patent no. 424 of 14th February 1865, Purdey 1st pattern long throw thumbhole underlever, patent no. 1104 of 2nd May 1863, the action flat marked 'No. 1', fine border and acanthus scroll engraving, brushed and reblued finish, 14 1/2in. well-figured stock (cracked at hand) including steel buttplate, fore-end with minor losses, crosspin release, weight 7lb.
Provenance: The makers have kindly provided us with the following information:
Completed: 1866
For: Honourable Milles(?)
Description: No. 1 of a pair of centrefire hammer game guns
Weight: 7lb. 1oz.
Calibre: 12-bore
Barrels: 30in. Damascus
Choke: Both Cylinder
Stock: 14 3/8in.
Notes:
Purdey thumblever
Research would indicate that "Honorable Milles" could be George Watson Milles, 1st Earl Sondes (2 October 1824 – 10 September 1894). He was a British peer and Conservative politician. Sondes was the son of George Milles, 4th Baron Sondes by his wife Eleanor Knatchbull, 5th daughter of Sir Edward Knatchbull, 8th Baronet.
Milles made a single appearance in first-class cricket for the Gentlemen of Kent against the Gentlemen of England at Lord's in 1849. Batting twice in the match, he was dismissed for 3 runs in the Gentlemen of Kent first innings by Thomas Craven, while in their second innings he was dismissed without scoring by the same bowler.
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Estimate £700-900
S2 - Sold as a Section 2 Firearm under the 1968 Firearms Act