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self-opening sidelock ejector 12-bore heavy game gun by J PURDEY & SONS
Guns International #: 100880454 Seller's Inventory #:
Category: Purdey Shotguns - Shotguns - English Double
Seller's Information
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Seller: Ozgunsales
Member Since: 5/16/17
First Name: Bill
Last Name: Hailes
State: State not Found
Zip: 3150
Country: Australia
Phone:
Number of Active Listings: 1
Total Number of Listings: 10
Seller: Private Seller
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
Payment Types Accepted:
Description:
SH2 Exceptionally rare, American game-scene engraved, factory-cased self-opening sidelock ejector 12-bore heavy game gun by J PURDEY & SONS with two sets of barrels, No. 18831 for 1907. 2 5/8” chambers, 28” chopper-lumped steel barrels. This amazing extra-finished chisel-engraved exhibition quality Purdey is one of only a handful which were built in the late 19th and early 20th century to special order and for presentation to foreign dignitaries. The nicely struck barrels are fitted with stippled concave high game ribs engraved J Purdey & Sons, Audley House, South Audley Street, London. and Made of Sir Joseph Whitworth’s Fluid-Pressed Steel. The barrel flats show London nitro proofs for 1 1/8 oz shot. Both barrel sets are stamped with the gun serial number 18831 and with the word Choke to all barrels. The open-choked barrels (Loop numbers 33305 and 33306) and the more tightly-choked barrels (Loop numbers 34236 and 34237) are both additionally engraved with Made of Sir Joseph Whitworth’s Fluid-Pressed Steel. to the rear of their under-ribs. The Beesley patent self-opening action features a hidden third fastener, bushed strikers, an automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold band) and gold-inlaid arrow tumbler end cocking indicators. All metal parts are blued, and feature exceptionally well detailed and finely shaded high relief open acanthus scroll with floral highlights as background to exceptional carved renditions of American game birds and small mammals, including a pair of ducks on the fences, a large ruffed grouse on the left lockplate, a snipe on the right lockplate, a trio of incoming red grouse on the underside of the action bar, a running rabbit on the trigger guard, a squirrel on the top lever and the head of a red grouse peering through long grass on the Anson forend push surround. The safety slide is carved with a satyr’s mask in full relief. This work is in the manner of the noted French engraver Messer Barre who was active in the late 19th Century, and is known to have engraved Purdey presentation/exhibition guns. The Saunders/Kell workshop was active in 1907 when this gun was finished, and Harry Kell, aged 26 in 1907, may well have been responsible for the chiseled engraving. The nicely marbled and lightly figured walnut stock features 22 LPI point pattern semi flat top chequering with mullered borders and has a semi pistol grip and a chequred butt with engraved blued steel heel and toe plates. The gold oval on the toe line of the stock is engraved WPI for Walker Patterson Inman, the owner of the gun from 1936 to 1955. The splinter forend has an Anson release. The barrel measurements and gun dimensions are as follows: Loop Numbers 33305 & 33306 (Open) 34236 & 34237 (Choked) Bore Diameter L 0.733” R 0.734” L 0.733” R 0.734” Bore restrictions L 0.010” (IC) R 0.010” (IC) L 0.043” (Full) R 0.025” (Mod) Wall Thickness L 0.032” R 0.034” L 0.031” R 0.026” Drops Comb 1 5/8” Heel 2 3/4” Comb 1 7/8” Heel 2 7/8” Length of Pull 14 1/8” Weight 7 lbs 2 oz 7 lbs 2 oz The gun is housed in its original best quality makers oak and leather case reinforced with brass corners. The case lid has a vacant brass medallion. The case lid leather is embossed in gold WPI for Walker Patterson Inman. The case has been relined in maroon wool cloth with the original makers trade and charge detail labels refixed to the inside of the lid. The accessories include three new horn-handled Purdey-style turnscrews, a new square plated Purdey-marked oil bottle, a new pair of Purdey-marked snapcaps, a Purdey-marked brass and horn-handled chamber brush and cover, a black wood-handled striker bush key, an empty bone striker jar and a 12-bore pull-through in a black leather wallet. CONDITION: Excellent, as refinished by the Purdey factory in 1919-1920 for Henry Graves Jr. Both sets of barrels retain virtually all of their lustrous blacking, the action, lockplates, trigger guard and top lever retain 90% of their charcoal blue. The stock and forend retain most of their original finish with a number of minor marks and scratches. The chequering is good. Action is tight, barrels are on the face and the ejectors are in time. The case exterior leather is water stained and the interior has been relined in correct maroon wool cloth and the original trade and charge labels refixed to the inside of the lid. The accessories are either new or in sparingly used condition. PROVENANCE: This exceptionally rare chisel-engraved Purdey heavy game gun with two sets of barrels was finished in 1907 for a Mr Fowler, presumably an American Purdey customer. As noted above it was returned to the Purdey factory in 1919 by Von Lengerke & Detmold of New York for refinishing to the order of Henry Graves Jr. Mr Graves was a frequent customer of Von Lengerke & Detmold and bought and sold many fine firearms, including those by Purdey, Holland & Holland and Boss. He was a prominent New York financier and made his fortune in banking and railroads. He is most notable for commissioning Patek Phillipe to produce the worlds’ most expensive and complicated pocket watch, the “Supercomplication”, in the 1920’s. As recorded in the Von Lengerke & Detmold Import Book the refinishing work undertaken at the Purdey factory in 1919-1920 for Henry Graves Jr. included a replacement stock and forend, replacement matted ribs to both barrel sets, re-regulation shooting and rebluing the barrels and action. In 1936 this gun, along with a number of other Purdey and Boss side-by-side and under-and-over single guns and pairs owned by Henry Graves Jr, were sold through Von Lengerke & Detmold. This particular gun was sold to Walker Patterson Inman, born in Atlanta, Georgia on August 21, 1894. Mr Inman resided at Duke Farms in Somerville, New Jersey. He was the half-brother of billionairess Doris Duke, the owner of Duke Farms by inheritance from her father, James Buchanan Duke. The family interests included Duke Power, the American Tobacco Company and Duke University. Walker Patterson Inman died in 1955 and the gun came into the possession of his son, Walker Patterson Inman Jr, an avid gun, knife, sword and steam engine collector, who died in 2010 of a drug overdose at the age of 57. A superb and historic investment gun with a fascinating provenance! Sent from my iPad
SOLD