James Purdey, 314 ½ Oxford Street,
London.
12
bore Back-action Hammergun
No. 7953,
No 1 of a Pair
Year of manufacture: 1869
Click on these images for more detail.
Heritage
Guns' Comment
This is a
rather
unusual Purdey
hammergun:
built in 1869 as one of a pair for Lord A St.Maur,
it was originally fitted with 31 1/16" (!) barrels and features a
bolstered action and 'island' back action locks.
As was often the case, it is
fitted with
the
commonly seen
grip safety but we are not sure if it is a later conversion (by
Purdey) or a re-spec during the build as there
are signs that it was not intended as original.
The engraving is fantastically crisp on all the hard metal which
is testimony to the high quality of Purdey's hardening. We suspect
that the beautiful
hammers are vintage
replacements as they exhibit rather more case colour than the rest
of the gun.
So far not so very different from many Purdey hammerguns of the
period. However,
don't get the idea that this is a
classic,
light game gun! On the contrary, it is a serious target or high
bird gun and suitable for 'standard' steel: TIG sleeved 2 3/4"
nitro, chokes 1/4 & 1/2 (IC/Mod), MWT's in
the
low 40's, weight 7lb 8oz, balance point 1
½
" in front of hinge. Delicious, original French walnut stock and
forend, LOP 14 7/8" including a 3/4" leather covered recoil pad.
Purdey themselves have indicated that the gun might have been
ordered for the dual-purpose of game and live pigeon. Presented in
its Maker's oak & leather case with some accessories. For someone
wanting a serious gun for some serious shooting, either game or
clay, this could be the one!
WE REGRET THAT THIS GUN IS NOW
SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN, PLEASE CONTACT
US.
|
The action
is James Purdey’s famous ‘2nd Pattern Thumb Hole’ design
and features:
Double triggers and Grip safety;
Back action
‘Island’, rebounding locks;
High ‘Dolphin’ hammers with Sprung
strikers;
‘Thumb hole’ lever operating a 'Purdey Bolt';
Percussion fences;
Teardrop bolstered junction between breech face
and action bar and rounded bar;
Cross bolt, or ‘wedge’, forend
fastener.
Gun weight 7lb 8oz
Engraving style Best
foliate scroll. Top tang engraved ‘PATENT’ and under-bar engraved
‘PURDEY’S PATENT’. Purdey bolt engraved ‘No. 1’, forend iron stamped 'P
1'.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ½ lbs Rear
trigger 4 lbs.
The TIG sleeved damascus to steel barrels are
31 1/16" in length, chambered for 2 ¾" (70mm) cartridges and are of
brazed 'dovetail' lump construction with soft soldered ribs. Top rib
is of a swamped, concave type.
Birmingham reproof for 70mm
nitro powder cartridges in 2018.
Approximate barrel measurements
at date of publication:
|
Nominal Proof Size
|
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
|
Minimum Wall Thickness
|
Choke Constriction
|
Right Barrel |
18.4mm (0.724")
|
0.725"
|
0.043"
|
0.010" (IC)
|
Left Barrel |
18.4mm (0.724")
|
0.725"
|
0.044"
|
0.021" (Mod)
|
The original Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend
are crafted from highly figured walnut. The stock is lightly cast-off
for a right handed shooter, features a vacant yellow metal oval and is
finished with a 3/4" leather covered recoil pad. The forend is
retained by a cross-bolt, or wedge, fastener and is fitted with a
finely engraved metal tip. There are 4 small wood inlets to its edge.
The approx. 19 lines per inch chequering
has been freshened to its original back lock design.
The stock is finished with a traditional linseed oil based preparation
as used on best guns by one of the top English makers. This finish uses
no grain fillers to achieve its deep, smooth lustre, only many hours
of alternate build and flatting off of the surface.
Approximate stock
measurements at date of publication:
Pull to Heel
|
Pull to Bump
|
Pull to Centre
|
Pull to Toe
|
14 5/8"
|
14 3/4"
|
14 7/8"
|
15 1/2"
|
Drop at Comb
|
Drop at Face
|
Drop at Heel
|
1 1/2"
|
1 11/16"
|
2 3/8 "
|
Cast at Comb
|
Cast at Heel
|
1/8" approx.
|
1/4" approx.
|
For the purposes of these measurements,
'Drop at Face' is the 'drop' measurement taken on a line perpendicular
to the
line joining the trigger and centre of the butt at approximately 8"
from the trigger (front trigger on a double trigger gun).
Patents Exhibited include:
'Purdey; Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863;
Wyatt’s Grip Safety no. 4218 of 1818 (part of);
Stanton's rebounding lock patent no. 367 of 1867.