Product Details
J. PURDEY & SONS
A .400 PURDEY (3IN.) LIGHT EXPRESS SELF-OPENING SIDELOCK EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE, serial no. 22657,
25 1/2in. Whitworth-steel nitro chopperlump barrels with matt sight rib, open sights and folding leaf sight with silver sighting lines and marked '100' and '200', ramped bead fore-sight, rib engraved 'J. PURDEY & SONS. AUDLEY HOUSE. SOUTH AUDLEY STREET. LONDON. MADE OF SIR JOSEPH WHITWORTH'S FLUID PRESSED STEEL.', treble-grip self-opening action with side-clips, removable striker discs, bolted automatic safety with gold-inlaid 'BOLTED' and 'SAFE' details, cocking-indicators, best fine acanthus scroll engraving with floral bouquets, retaining traces of colour-hardening and finish, 14 1/4in. highly-figured pistolgrip stock with cheekpiece, steel pistolgrip-cap and sling swivels, weight 8lb. 2oz.
Provenance: The makers have kindly confirmed that this gun was completed in August 1925 for Sir Steven Bilsland, 1st Baron Bilsland
Captain (Alexander) Steven Bilsland, 1st Baron Bilsland KT, MC (13th September 1892 - 10th December 1970), eldest surviving son of Sir WIlliam Bilsland, 1st Baronet, was educated at St John's College, Cambridge and served as a Captain in the 8th Battalion Scottish Rifles. He succeeded to the baronetcy in 1921.
Serving in Egypt and Palestine during the Great War, in 1918, Bilsland was awarded the Military Cross "... for conspicuous gallantry and resource as Staff Captain of his brigade during an advance. On three occasions he took charge of transport carrying rations and water to the most advanced units along roads swept by continuous fire. It was due to his fearless example that the rations reached their destination..."
In peacetime, he was head of Bilsland Bankers Ltd. in Glasgow, originally founded by his Uncle James Bilsland and was also Chairman of the Scottish National Trust Ltd.
In 1950, in recognition of his public services in Scotland, he was elevated to the peerage as 1st Baron Bilsland, of Kinrara, co. Inverness. In 1955 he was invested as a Knight, Order of the Thistle.
Following his death at the age of 78 in 1970 the baronetcy and barony became extinct.
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Estimate £8,000-12,000