Product Details
THE EARLIEST KNOWN SURVIVING JAMES PURDEY PERCUSSION GUN
A FINE CASED 14-BORE DOUBLE-BARRELLED SPORTING-GUN, serial no. 349,
for 1821, with re-browned 29 3/4in. twist barrels, the top-rib signed 'J. PURDEY, PRINCES STRT. LEICESTER SQUARE LONDON', the underside of the barrels stamped 'C.L.' for 'Charles Lancaster', bead fore-sight, two engraved bands and a platinum line at breech, the rib-end engraved with a dog's head, platinum vented plugs, border, scroll and shell engraved top-tang, flat, curved borderline engraved locks signed 'PURDEY', further feathered scroll engraving, the tail concealing the word 'PATENT', dolphin-headed hammers engraved with coiled feathered serpents, automatic 'dog-catch' safes operating behind the hammers and marked 'SAFETY' (the right at fault), walnut half-stock chequered at the wrist (old cracks behind and above both locks), iron heel-plate (engraving rubbed), border and scroll engraved trigger-guard bow, engraved grip-safe to the bottom tang, vacant clipped-corner rectangular gold escutcheon to top of wrist. iron thimbles and replacement ramrod TOGETHER WITH a wood storage case, compartmented and lined in green baize, the inner lid with Purdey Princes Street, Leicester Square label and containing a number of accessories including a powder and a shot flask, cap tins, wads, a turn-screw and a cleaning rod
Literature: Please see 'The Early Purdey's' by L. Patrick Unsworth, pages 117 and 182.
on page 117 Unsworth states "For the present, the earliest known Purdey shotguns built specifically for the percussion cap are two existing guns, one a double 14-bore, No. 349 and the other a single 6-bore, No. 374, both made during the first half of 1822"
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Estimate £2,000-3,000