So yesterday I asked everyone what they thought of this 12g Purdey SxS: Is it all original, or has it been redone. Most people thought the finish was original, and to them I say – you’re pretty much right.
This Purdey is mostly original. The color-case hardening and blueing have been there since the gun’s birth. The stock, though, has been lightly refinished — probably a long time ago. Julia’s had this shotgun in their Fall 2014 sale, and it sold for $17,250 – a very fair price. I wished I had had the $$ to buy it.
It was beautiful gun, built by many of Purdey’s most famous employees. It really hasn’t been messed with, either. Check out the minimum wall thickenss: left -.034, right -.032. That’s a lot of metal, and a clear sign that no one has been polishing out those tubes season after season (like the Brits love to do).
FINE ANTIQUE JAMES PURDEY SIDELOCK EJECTOR GAME GUN WITH ORIGINAL CASE: SN 14855. (1893) Cal. 12 ga. 2-1/2″ Chambers. 30″ Chopper lump bbls are engraved “James Purdey & Sons, Audley House, South Audley Street. London.” and “Made of Sir Joseph Whitworth’s Fluid Pressed Steel” on narrow concave rib. Bbl flats are stamped with London black powder proofs. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with SNs and bottom of left bbl with initials “GA” (George Aston, head barrel maker). Tube nos. 13448 and 13449 are on loop. Beesley patent self-opening action features automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold), bushed strikers, engraved arrow head tumbler end cocking indicators, and double triggers. Action is engraved in typical Purdey house style rose and scroll. Engraving is exceptionally fine and well detailed, most likely by J. Lucas, head engraver. “J. Purdey & Sons” is on each lockplate, and “Purdey’s Patent” is on bottom of action. Scroll engraved trigger guard has SN at grip. Well streaked and lightly figured European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-7/8″ over Silver type pad. Classic drop points and point pattern checkering are at grip, and a silver oval with remnants of a monogram is on toe line. Matching splinter ejector forend with
Anson release is marked with unknown actioner’s initials “HH” on iron. Bore diameter: left-.731, right -.731. Bore restrictions: left -.010 (IC), right -.000 (cyl). Minimum wall thickness: left -.034, right -.032. Drop at heel: 2-1/4″, drop at comb: 1-5/16″. Weight: 7 lbs. 2 oz. LOP: 14-7/8″. Original makers oak and leather case with brass corners and central circular medallion, is lined in scarlet cloth. A small paper Purdey label marked “Late of 314-1/2 Oxford Street”, along with an instruction label, and the orig charge card for this gun, are in lid. Case contains 2-pc rosewood and brass cleaning rod, Purdey marked broken case extractor, and cleaning implements, as well as three case strap retainers.
CONDITION: Excellent. Bbls retain nearly all of what appears to be their orig blue, with some slight silvering and thinning from normal hand wear. Action and lockplates retain nearly all of what appears to be their vibrant orig case hardening color, silvering on beads and fences. Engraving is very sharp and clear. Top lever and trigger guard retain most of their orig bright blue, silvering at thumbpiece and grip. Stocks retain nearly all of an old oil refinish, grain open. Sharp edges are slightly rounded, checkering flattened and gummed. Pad appears to be a later replacement. There are incipient cracks behind both lockplates and top tang. Bores are excellent with a hint of frosting toward breech ends of both bbls. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are slightly out of time. Case leather is good with considerable staining and chipping. Straps are missing. Strap retainers detached (three are in case). Handle has repairs. Interior cloth is very fine with some compressions and one tear from contact with action fence. Labels are fine, slightly soiled. Some partitions are slightly loose. Cleaning rod is fine. A superb high condition antique Purdey in need of some detailing. Sold For: $17,250
