Product Details
J. PURDEY & SONS
A LIGHTWEIGHT 12-BORE SELF-OPENING SIDELOCK EJECTOR, serial no. 23748,
27in. nitro chopperlump barrels with stippled matt rib, the tubes engraved 'J. PURDEY & SONS. AUDLEY HOUSE. SOUTH AUDLEY STREET. LONDON. MADE OF SIR JOSEPH WHITWORTH'S FLUID PRESSED STEEL.', 2 1/2in. chambers, bored approx. imp. cyl and 1/2 choke, self-opening action, removable striker discs, automatic safety with gold-inlaid 'SAFE' detail, cocking-indicators, best fine bouquet and scroll engraving, brushed and blued finish, 14in. figured stock including 1/4in. wooden extension, weight 5lb. 15oz., in its brass-cornered oak and leather case with striker disc key, bone striker pot, snap-caps and oil bottle
Provenance: The makers have kindly confirmed that this gun was completed in May 1929 with 27in. barrels for a W.S. Millard.
Further research would indicate that "W.S. Millard" could be Walter Samuel Millard (1864 - 1952), British entrepreneur and naturalist who was honorary secretary of the Bombay Natural History Society, editor of the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society from 1906 to 1920, co-author of the classic, Some Beautiful Indian Trees, and the driving force behind the Mammal Survey of the Indian subcontinent conducted by the society between 1911 and 1923.
The vendor has informed us that his grandfather, Reuben Rockliffe bought the gun before the Second World War, in about 1933. The family have kindly provided us with the following information:
"During the war Reuben joined the Observer Corps, and was transferred to the Auxilliary units in 1940. Here he spent weekends practicing going 'underground' in the event of invasion. He kept their dynamite under the stairs in the farmhouse, later disposing of it by blowing up the fishpond behind the house.
He joined a shooting syndicate at Felbrigg and Blickling. Also he enjoyed trips to Scotland grouse shooting.
In 1975 he gave the gun to his son-in-law, who continued shooting at Felbrigg. In 1995 the gun was passed to the vendor."
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Estimate £8,000-12,000
S2