An Extremely Rare Cased Four-Barrelled Percussion by J. Purdey.
An Extremely Rare Cased 28-Bore Four-Barrelled Percussion Turn-Over Pistol by J. Purdey, No. 314½ Oxford Street, London, No. 2119 For 1832. With sighted blue black barrel-block of one piece with four integral sunken ribs, case-hardened breech and tang made in one piece, the former engraved with guilloche, the latter grooved for sighting, finely engraved with a martial trophy and foliage, and fitted with bright foliate engraved sliding thumb-catch securing the barrels, case-hardened serial numbered foliate scroll engraved rounded back-action locks each signed in full on the tail and fitted with blued safety-catch behind the dolphin hammer (hammer spurs expertly repaired), the hammers each engraved with a martial trophy, chequered ebonised rounded butt, large blued D-shaped trigger-guard engraved on the bow with a martial trophy within guilloche borders, border engraved case-hardened ovoidal pommel with hinged foliate engraved butt-trap cover, border engraved vacant silver escutcheon, chequered forward trigger, and nearly all its original finish: in original lined and fitted brass-mounted mahogany case (split at the lock) with accessories including lacquered brass powder-measure, nipple-key and flask (cut-off spring incomplete), the lid (trade label missing) with flush-fitting brass carrying handle centred on a vacant circular brass escutcheon.
Provenance:
Sold at Bonhams, Antique Arms and Armour, 28 July 2012, lot 307
Literature:
L. Patrick Unsworth, The Early Purdeys, 1996, pp. 73-74, and 132, pls. 31-32. Recorded as ‘A four-barrelled pistol with case complete’ and sold to Lord Middleton on 11 February 1832 for £52.10.0.
Only ten pistols of this type are recorded in Purdey’s register of which only two, this being the only cased example, are known to survive
PURDEY
James (2) Son of James 1, Born 1828, Apprentice to father, 1843; free of Gunmakers Co. and took Livery, 1860. Elected Assistant, 1867; Master 1874, 1882, 1892. Took control of family business, 1857. Gunmaker, 314 1/2 Oxford St., 1863-81 (became ‘& Sons’ 1877).
Howard L. Blackmore (1986) Gunmakers Of London, 1350-1850. George Shumway Publisher. USA.
Dimensions:
Bore:
Barrel Length:
Overall Length:
£17,950.00
1 in stock
