These sold for 24,000 pounds plus fees which is about 20% above the high estimate.
There was another Purdey island lock hammergun in the auction, but it was NOT an ejector. The estimate was 1500-2000 pounds and it sold for 3400 pounds which is well above the high estimate. Interestingly from my perspective, I have a Purdey hammer gun made in the same year (1878) but it is a bar in wood ie not an island lock. I presume the buyer had a choice between the two. Both types are collectibe and I'm not sure which is more desirable. A hammer ejector is a dream for me, but maybe one day I will win a lottery.
Another interesting thing I learned is that Holt's charge a fee for their archive services and the results of the previous auction are archived rather quickly.
Bill
