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LOT 3311
Finely Engraved James Purdey Large 14 Bore Percussion
Sporting Rifle - Serial no. 3527, 14 bore cal., 29 1/2 inch octagon bbl., brown/
casehardened/blue finish, checkered walnut stock. Per page 192 of “Purdey Gun & Rifle Makers:
The Definitive History” by Donald Dallas, this rifle is listed in Purdey’s sales ledgers as sold in 1847. The rifled
Damascus barrel has a thick dovetailed blade front sight set at the muzzle, a dovetailed notch and folding leaf rear
sight, and “J PURDEY 314 1/2 OXFORD STREET, LONDON” signed on top at the breech. The casehardened breech plug has
an inlaid platinum band and pierced platinum plug. The lock and mounts have fine English scroll and border engraving. The
lock is signed “PURDEY” and has a sliding half-cock safety. It is fired using an adjustable single set trigger enclosed in a blued
trigger guard with knurled grip extension. The walnut half-stock has a horn forend cap, checkered forend and wrist, round
patchbox with patches, oval shadowline cheekpiece, and 14 inch length of pull. A sling eye is incorporated on the central
ramrod ferrule, and a sling stud is on the underside of the butt. The underside of the barrel has London proof marks and the
“JP” maker’s mark. The matching serial number is marked on the barrel, breech hook, and trigger guard. The ramrod has a horn
tip and threaded end cap numbered to the rifle. The original lower bead and notch sights and nipple are also included.
CONDITION: Very fine with crisp engraving and markings, period refurbished barrel with distinct Damascus patterns, 85% plus
original blue finish on the trigger guard, some fading mainly on the edges of the barrel and buttplate, minimal faint oxidation,
80% vibrant period refurbished case colors, and light overall wear. The stock is fine and has mild scratches and dings, spots of wear in the otherwise crisp checkering, and some attractive figure. Mechanically excellent. Overall, a
very attractive and impressive Purdey percussion rifle.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 3310
Historic Game Scene Engraved Wilkinson & Son Half-Stock
Percussion Sporting Rifle Documented as Sold to the Duke of Wellington -
Serial no. 5958, 28 bore cal., 31 1/2 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/blue finish, walnut
stock. The included copy of the factory ledger lists rifle 5958 as a 32 bore single barrel rifle with 28
inch length as sold to the Duke of Wellington in April of 1853. 5959 was a 38 bore double rifle also
sold to him the same month. This would be Arthur Wellesley, 2nd Duke of Wellington (1807-
1884), “the son of Waterloo.” He became the Duke of Wellington upon the death of his father in
1852. His father was the famed 1st Duke of Wellington, the hero of the Napoleonic Wars who
famously shattered Napoleon’s army at Waterloo. Like his father, the 2nd Duke of Wellington
had a long career in the British military and politics. He rose rapidly in rank from an ensign in 1823 to a major-general in 1854. He was
Master of the Horse from 1853 to 1858 and was a Knight of the Garter starting in 1858. He was a member of the Privy Council and later
in life was the Lord-Lieutenant of Middlesex among other positions. This classic Victorian deer rifle has a Damascus barrel, bead style
blade front sight, four-leaf rear sight with inlaid sight lines, “WILKINSON & SON. GUN MAKERS TO HER MAJESTY. PALL MALL. LONDON.”
signed on top of the breech section, matching serial number on the barrel and trigger guard tang, London proofs, primarily scroll and
floral engraving, “WILKINSON. &. SON.” signed on the lock which has a sliding safety ahead of the hammer, pineapple finial on the trigger
plate, adjustable double set triggers, square back trigger guard with grip extension and running stag scene, standing stag scene on the
round patch box, additional standing stag scene on the buttplate tang, and half-length stock with horn forend tip, silver wedge and wrist
escutcheons, checkered wrist, and shotgun butt without cheek rest.
CONDITION: Very fine with 95% plus of the professionally refinished brown finish over distinct twist patterns along the barrel, 75% plus of the
lightly aged original case colors, aged patina on the silver, 40% original blue, smooth gray and brown patina on the balance, and
minimal overall wear mostly from age and storage. The stock is also very fine with crisp checkering, nearly all of the original finish,
some light scratches, and scattered minor dings. Aside from the set trigger; mechanically fine. Overall, this is a beautiful historic
classic English half-stock percussion sporting rifle made for the Duke of Wellington.
Provenance: The Richard P. Mellon Collection; The Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 6,000 - 9,000
Duke of
Wellington
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