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Magnificent James Purdey Pair 12 bore Back-Action Hammerguns - No's 8521 & 8522 in Original Case
Guns International #: 102636127 Seller's Inventory #:
Category: Purdey Shotguns - Shotguns - English Double
Seller's Information
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Seller: MacNab
Company: MacNab Fine Firearms
Member Since: 6/30/07
State: Virginia
Zip: 24523
Country: United States
Phone: (704) 796-6364
Number of Active Listings: 32
Total Number of Listings: 951
Seller: FFL Dealer
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
3 days
Payment Types Accepted: Cashiers Check, U.S. Postal Money Order, Personal Check
Description:
*** JUST IN FROM THE UK *** This special pair of Purdey hammerguns made in 1871 are a very rare thing in that they have never apparently been broken up nor lost their original case, complete with original charge label. Hammerless pairs of the late C19th can quite often be found together but as hammerguns were superseded, they were almost invariably split up and sold on or given to employees and impecunious relations. One reason may have been that No. 1 had suffered a burst RH barrel, long before sleeving had been invented, and the cost of rebarrelling would probably have been considered uneconomical. Put to the back of the gun cabinet as unusable and valueless, it was probably forgotten and the No. 2 gun kept for old times’ sake and the odd day out. Anyway, this fluke of history is a godsend for lovers of historical guns. *** No. 2 was not in a good way either: the barrel walls were thin and pitted so in order to maintain the two as a matched pair, we opted to have them sleeved together so balance, weight, etc. could be best maintained. Both guns now balance exactly on their hinge pins and there is only 2oz difference in total weight. Prior to reproof, both guns had laser-welded repairs to erosion damage on their RH breech striker hole. *** The engraving is beautifully crisp on all the hard metal which is testimony to the high quality of Purdey's hardening and there are substantial traces of original hardening colour in protected areas. Both guns carry their delicious, original French walnut stocks and forends, with 14 7/8" LOP’s including 3/4" leather covered recoil pads. *** With their excellent MWT’s and 2 ¾” nitro reproof, these guns are compatible with modern CIP Standard Steel loads and as such present an almost unique opportunity for the lover of hammerguns to have a true, travelling pair unencumbered by the complexity of ejectors, safety slides or auto-cocking mechanisms. Presented in their relined, original Oak & Leather double case with some cleaning and reloading accessories, original charge card and a reproduction label. SPECIAL NOTE that only where the two guns differ have we listed their individual specifications and features below. *** Recently refurbished in the UK by Toby Barclay of Heritage Gunst the actions bring together two of James Purdey’s iconic designs, the Purdey Bolt and Island Locks, and feature: Double triggers; Back action ‘Island’, rebounding locks; High ‘Dolphin’ hammers; Sprung, gold-washed strikers; Top levers operating a 'Purdey Bolt' by way of a Scott Spindle; Finely carved percussion fences & Rounded bar;Cross-bolt, or ‘Wedge’, forend fasteners. Both guns balance exactly on their hinge pins. Gun weights 7lb 3oz (1), 7lb 5oz (2) Engraving style Best foliate scroll. Top lever engraved ‘PATENT’ and under-bar engraved ‘PURDEY’S PATENT’. Action flats engraved ‘No. 1’ & ‘No. 2’, top ribs engraved ‘1’ & ‘2’. Forends stamped with their gun's serial number. Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ½ lbs (1), 3 ¼ (2) Rear trigger 4 ½ lbs (both) *** The TIG sleeved damascus to steel barrels are 30" in length, chambered for 2 ¾" (70mm) cartridges and are of brazed 'dovetail' lump construction with soft soldered ribs. Top rib is of a smooth, concave type. Birmingham reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2021. The right barrel is bored 0.725 (both) with a constriction of 0.012(1)/0.011(2) for Improved Cylinder choke. Minimum wall thickness is 0.032(1)/0.036(2). The left barrel is also bored 0.725 (both) with a constriction of 0.022(1)/0.021(2) for Modified choke. Minimum wall thickness is 0.036(1)/0.037(2). *** The original Straight Hand Stocks and Splinter Forends are crafted from highly figured French walnut. The stocks are lightly cast-off for a right handed shooter, feature vacant silver ovals and are finished with a 3/4" leather covered recoil pads. The stock of No. 1 has some small, barely visible repairs to the edges bordering the lock plates. The forends are retained by cross-bolt, or wedge, fasteners and are fitted with finely engraved metal tips. There is one small wood inlet to No. 1’s forend edge and two inlets to No. 2’s. The approx. 20 lines per inch checkering has been freshened to its original back lock design. The stock is finished with a traditional linseed oil based preparation as used on best guns by one of the top English makers. This finish uses no grain fillers to achieve its deep, smooth lustre, only many hours of alternate build and flatting off of the surface. Stock dimensions are 14-7/8”(1) / 14-15/16”(2) by 1-1/2”(1) / 1-7/16”(2) by 2-3/4”(1 ) / 2-11/16”(2). Both slightly cast off for the right hand shot. *** Buyer is responsible for all shipping, insurance, and any other related charges. I give a 3-day non-firing inspection period and will only accept returns at buyer’s expense. *** US AGENT FOR HERITAGE GUNS UK ***.
Price: $24,950.00
Antique: Yes