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PURDEY 450 3 1/4" BPE- A TOTALLY ORIG 1890 RIFLE & CASE EXCEPT Bbls. REBLACKED- OWNED by H. R. H. PRINCE ARTHUR of CONNAUGHT- BORES LIKE NEW-CASE
Guns International #: 101788839 Seller's Inventory #: y697
Category: Double Rifles - Bore or Gauge - Rifles - English Sporting
Seller's Information
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Seller: Champlin
Company: Champlin Firearms Inc.
Member Since: 11/19/07
First Name: George
Last Name: Caswell
State: Oklahoma
Zip: 73702
Country: United States
Phone: (580) 237-7388
Platinum Seller
Seller: FFL Dealer
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
5 Plus Days
Payment Types Accepted:
Description:
#13734, J. Purdey & Sons Audley House, South Audley Street, London: A Totally Original Cased (Except Barrels Professionally Reblacked) Purdey 450 3 1/4" BPE Owned by H. R. H. Prince Arthur of Connaught, Made in 1890, The Bores are Excellent Plus, Purdey Jones Action Underlever Back-Action Island Lock (Isolated Lock) Non-Rebounding Hammer 450 3 1/4" Black Powder Express Double Rifle, 28" Steel fully rifled barrels, Full length rib with 1 standing & 1 folding rear sights that are platinum or silver lined; 450 3 1/4" solid drawn brass case with 3 3/4 drams of No. 6 Powder with a papered bullet, Percussion style fences, Forward Stalking hammer safeties, Dolphin hammers, Side clip action body, Full length trigger guard tang to a steel engraved grip cap, Extremely solid and sound wood with very good color & contrast with deep browns and black, Shadowline cheekpiece, No sling eyes, Frontal Anson forend release, 14" LOP over a checkered steel buttplate inscribed "Charge 3 3/4 Drams No.6 Powder", 8 lbs. 1 oz., 65% coverage of Purdey's classic fine scroll engraving possibly by Warren or their head engraver Mr. J. Lucas, The only thing done to this piece is a reblack of the barrels and now remain at 99% with near perfect striking, This piece has 40% original case colors remaining, The butt & forend are as solid as they were 132 years ago, The original stock finish is at 80% and never refinished, The original checkering remains at 85%, The bores remain today like they did in 1890 and are absolutely excellent plus with square rifling the entire way and look like new. The whole is cased in the factory original oak & leather trunk with 2 original trade labels and original cleaning gear. Both ends of the case has labels marked for Prince Arthur with Purdey's name and address. This is an incredible 132-year-old Classic Purdey package that is totally original (Except the Reblack) with bores like new. Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn; May 1, 1850 – January 16, 1942) was a member of the British Royal Family who served as the Governor General of Canada, the tenth since Canadian Confederation.
The firm of Purdey from 1880 to 2000 made only 327 double barrel hammer rifles and from 1857 to 1880 they made a total of 312; a span of 143 years for a total of 639. I rather doubt that many of the 639 exist in this original condition with bores like new, stout wood and a superb action body. Prior to 1880 Purdey built 27 single barrel rifles and I believe all of these were flintlock or percussion. From 1880 to 2000 Purdey built only 209 single barrel rifles in all calibers and types; hammer, hammerless and even bolt rifles. The first Purdey recorded hammerless gun was a 12-bore gun #10106 that was tested on September 26, 1877. Hammerless guns were very uncommon in the 1870's and it would not be until 1886 that more were produced than hammer guns. The year of 1886 was the watershed year for the changeover to hammerless guns. No sporting gun maker has a better fit of history, image, and prestige than James Purdey. There are double rifles and then there are serious double rifles. If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there would be a shortage of fine guns.
Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn was a member of the British Royal Family who served as the Governor General of Canada, the tenth since Canadian Confederation. Arthur was born at Buckingham Palace on May 1, 1850, the seventh child and third son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. In August 1899 the 6th Battalion, Rifles of the Canadian Non-Permanent Active Militia, located in Vancouver, British Columbia, asked Prince Arthur to give his name to the regiment and function as its honorary colonel. At St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, on 13 March 1879, Arthur married Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia, the daughter of Prince Frederick Charles. While in Canada it is on record that the Royal family also took to camping and other outdoor sports, such as hunting and fishing. There is a touch of Royalty to this original 1890 piece. The difference in liking a gun or loving a gun is in the details. Here is a 132-year-old gun that is as intense as gravity near a black hole.
Price: $15,400.00
Antique: Yes
Rifle Caliber: .450 Black Powder Express