Product Details
J. PURDEY & SONS
A PAIR OF 12-BORE SELF-OPENING SIDELOCK EJECTORS, serial no. 22443 / 4,
29in. Whitworth-steel nitro chopperlump barrels, ribs engraved 'J. PURDEY & SONS. AUDLEY HOUSE. SOUTH AUDLEY STREET. LONDON. MADE OF SIR JOSEPH WHITWORTH'S FLUID PRESSED STEEL', and gold-inlaid '1' and '2', some pits, 2 1/2in. chambers, bored approx. imp. cyl. and 3/4 choke, self-opening actions with removable striker discs, toplevers gold-inlaid '1' and '2, automatic safeties with gold-inlaid 'SAFE' details, cocking-indicators, best fine bouquet and scroll engraving, retaining traces of original colour-hardening and finish, 15 1/2in. figured stocks (minor setting crack to rear of top tang No.1), weight 6lb. 11oz., in their brass-cornered oak and leather case with accessories, canvas and leather outer with pouch containing two canvas and leather slips and two herringbone cloth protecting slips
Provenance: The makers have kindly informed us that this pair of shotguns were completed with 29in. barrels in July 1923 for Major Alston.
Major William Alston, M.C. was born 20th September 1889 and joined the 4th Battalion, The Rifle Brigade in January 1913. He served with the 4th in France during the Great War and in 1917 was awarded the Military Cross, as well as being Mentioned in Despatches on three occasions.
He was promoted to Brevet-Major in 1919 and full Major in 1930. He held various posts during the 1920s including G.S.O.2 at the War Office and later, Assistant Military Attaché to Washington in 1925. He then returned to the War Office where he remained until retirement in 1931.
The following passage was written by a fellow officer and is taken from the 1950 edition of the Rifle Brigade Chronicle:
"'Willie' Alston was always a cheerful and good sportsman. He did well in the First World War, and was with the Army of Occupation on the staff, and later as an Attaché in America. After his retirement his rooms at the Albany were a meeting-place for many of his friends."
Alston died 12th September 1950. The pair remained with the family who are now offering them at auction.
Estimate £18,000-22,000
S2