Product Details
J. PURDEY & SONS
A 20-BORE PUSH-FORWARD UNDERLEVER BAR-IN-WOOD HAMMERGUN, serial no. 10043,
30 1/2in. nitro reproved (in 2016) fine damascus barrels, rib engraved 'J. PURDEY & SONS. 314 1/2. OXFORD STREET. LONDON.', and '1', 2 1/2in. chambers, bored approx. 1/2 choke in both, carved percussion fences, rebounding sidelocks with dolphin hammers, nipples marked 'L' and 'R', push forward underlever, fine acanthus scroll engraving with floral bouquets, bar in wood (slight crack to underside), retaining slight traces of original colour-hardening, 14 3/8in. highly-figured stock, weight 5lb. 8oz.
Provenance: The makers have kindly confirmed that this gun was completed as No.1 of a pair in 1877, with 30 1/2in. barrels, for the Marquess of Tavistock.
George William Francis Sackville Russell, 10th Marquess of Tavistock, (16 April 1852 – 23 March 1893) was the son of Francis Russell, 9th Duke of Bedford.
On 24 October 1876, he married Lady Adeline Marie Somers, daughter of Charles Somers, 3rd Earl Somers. They had no children, but it is known that he had at least one illegitimate child, an Indian daughter. She lived with the pair until her father died and was then sent to live with her uncle, Herbrand Russell, and his family. She lived on the estate until she was married.
Russell was a Liberal member of parliament for Bedfordshire between 1875 and 1885, when the constituency was abolished. He was High Sheriff of Bedfordshire in 1889 and was later a Deputy Lieutenant of the county.
In 1891, Russell inherited the title of Duke of Bedford, together with Woburn Abbey and several other estates which went with it, including Chenies, Buckinghamshire, and an area of central London around Bedford Square.
In 1893, at the age of forty, he died of diabetes, at number 37, Chesham Place, London, and was buried in the 'Bedford Chapel' at St. Michael's Church at Chenies. His titles and estates were inherited by his younger brother Herbrand Russell.
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Estimate £5,000-7,000
S2