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SIMILAR EXAMPLE PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN PURDEY GUN & RIFLE MAKERS: THE DEFINITIVE HISTORY BY DALLAS
AS DESCRIBED IN THE EARLY PURDEYS BY UNSWORTH
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LOT 1310
Incredibly Early Documented Engraved Purdey Double Barrel Percussion Shotgun with Purdey Patent Safety Sears and Incredibly Rare and Beautiful Birdseye Maple Stock - Serial no. 424, 14 gauge, 29 1/4 inch solid rib bbl., brown/casehardened/blue finish, maple stock. One of the earliest and rarest Purdey percussion guns ever offered: serial number 424, a 14 bore double barrel shotgun with a stunning curly maple stock from the 1820s. The gun was recently inspected by Purdey’s,
and they confirmed this gun is the only Purdey gun known to be in private
hands that is stocked with a spectacular piece of birdseye maple. The only other example known is a single barrel gun that resides in the Purdey collection in London and features many of the same
components with generally similar engraving. Both guns may have been stocked using wood cut from the same maple blank, and the consignor indicated the blank is rumored to have been supplied by Colonel Peter Hawker (1786- 1853), an admirer of Purdey’s guns. Col. Hawker was also an acquaintance of Alexander John Forsyth
who patented the percussion cap. The single barrel birdseye maple gun is featured in Patrick Unsworth’s “The Early
Purdeys” in colour plates 7-12, and the current double barrel gun is listed in “Appendix 3: Shotguns” on page 183 as a double barrel with ‘Patent safety, the grip-lever since removed. Percussion cap gun. Maple stock. Now in Australia.” The single barrel gun is also shown in plates 9 and 10 of “Purdey Gun & Rifle Makers: The Definitive History” by Donald
Dallas. Thomas Boss, Robert Bagnall and Henry Atkin were all stockers for Purdey in the 1820s, and Peter Gumbrell is
noted as the shop’s engraver in this period. The gun is accompanied by information from past sales of this incredible gun, including a letter from H.G. James, manager for Donald Mackintosh in Melbourne, Australia, writing to a Mr. A. Berry of Victoria Valley, Tasmania, in 1929 about the gun and noting “You could hardly believe the number of shooters that have
admired the stock of the gun” while it was on display in a glass case in the shop. Additional handwritten documentation indicates the gun was sold to a Mr. J.A. Wilson by A. Berry (believed to be Alfred Berry) and notes the best loads for the gun. A subsequent letter from 1940 to Wilson from C. Gatenby indicates that he purchased three muzzleloading guns from
gunmaker G.E. Lewis of Birmingham, England, c. 1895-1896 and noted that the Purdey “had the prettiest stock of any gun I ever saw, and I have handled a few in my time. It was made of maple, and French polished; when the sunlight was caught on the right angle it was glorious.” He later sold the gun to Farquhar McRae of Hartfield-Bothwell. The Damascus barrels have a raised concave rib with a small bead front sight and is signed with the Princes St. Leicester Square address towards the breech end. The barrels were forged by Charles Lancaster and have his “CL” maker’s mark on the underside between the London black powder proof marks which are in turn followed by the serial number. The rib on the breech plugs features a vignette of a dog, and the breeches feature platinum bands and pierced platinum plugs. The standing breech has scroll engraving. The locks and hammers are engraved with serpent designs and scrollwork. The locks are each signed “PURDEY” and have the patented automatic half-cock safety sears with “SAFETY” marked on the sears and “PATENT” on the lock plate. The iron furniture also features scroll, foliate, and sunburst engraving, and the trigger guard bow also features a pair of pheasant. The wedge and wrist escutcheons are silver. The beautifully figured birdseye maple straight hand stock has checkering on the forend and wrist and a 14 9/16 inch length of pull. Includes a wooden ramrod with brass tip. CONDITION: Very good with light gray and brown patina, faint Damascus twist patterns on the barrels, rubbed rib signature, distinct lock markings and engraving, grip safety removed, some light pitting mainly on the bolsters, some aged patina on the silver, and general mild wear from honest use. The period refinished stock is also fine with lightly worn but visible checkering, some small repairs and thin cracks, light scratches and dings, and very attractive birdseye figure with excellent contrast. Mechanically fine. This is a very attractive and rare early Purdey percussion double barrel shotgun that clearly has been well-loved and well-traveled. This is your opportunity to add the only known Purdey with a maple stock in private hands in your collection! Provenance: James Purdey; George E. Lewis; The Christopher Gatenby Collection; The Farquhar McRae Collection; The A. Berry Collection; The J.A. Wilson Collection; Property of a Gentleman. Estimate: 4,500 - 7,000
LOT 1311
Fine Cased Panel Scene Engraved John Manton & Son Percussion Double Barrel Shotgun - Serial no. 11880, 12 gauge, 29 1/4 inch solid rib bbl., brown/casehardened/blue finish, walnut stock. This classic English percussion shotgun from the famous Manton family dates to c. 1845-1849 based on the matching serial number 11880 marked on the trigger guard, underside of each barrel, breech plug hooks, and forend. The underside of the Damascus barrels also have “J.M” and London proofs, and the concave rib has a bead front sight and “John Manton & Son, Dover Street, London” in script. The casehardened patent breeches have pierced platinum liners and scroll engraving which also continues on to the standing breech along with a hare. The locks are signed “JOHN MANTON & SON, PATENT.” and have scroll and pheasant scene engraving. The silver wrist escutcheon is blank. The blued steel furniture has scroll and game scene engraving, including a dog and pheasant scene on the trigger guard
bow, quail on the trigger guard tang, and a dog pursuing a fleeing pheasant on the buttplate tang. The stock has a checkered forend, silver wedge escutcheons, tear
drop flats, checkered wrist, and 14 3/8 inch length of pull. It comes in a fitted case with green baize lining, a John Manton & Son trade label, and loading and maintenance equipment, including a powder flask, shot flask, and a removable wood compartment in the lower right corner with sliding lid and sack of cards inside.
CONDITION: Fine. The engraving and markings remain crisp. The silver had attractive dark
aged patina. The barrels retain 60% plus original finish and distinct Damascus twist patterns and
have fading to smooth brown patina. Traces of case colors remain, but the casehardened components
otherwise display smooth gray patina. The trigger guard and buttplate retain strong original blue finish in protected areas and otherwise display smooth gray patina. The stock is also fine and has crisp checkering, mild wear, and some attractive figure and grain in the butt. Mechanically excellent. The case and accessories are also fine and have generally minor age and storage related wear. Overall, a very attractive Manton double barrel shotgun. Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500