doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Purdey Puzzle

Hi David. Fortunately there is no pitting around the firing pin holes and I don't know why. And thanks for the tips. It was nitro proofed in 1951 at what I take to be .700" and it is now .709". I don't know if that means it is out of proof or not. Minimum wall thickness of .032".

Thank you jOe - very good advice.

Best,

Mike

Well...

AMAZING! I bought that gun in a Christi's London Auction about 1994 and sold it at the Houston Gun Show about 4-5 years later.
It is definitely a converted MUzzleloader and I believe it was advertised in the Catalog as such. I did not believe Purdey did
the conversion, but reading Mr. Hyatt's post obviously they did.

This is amazing. I never dreamed I would have this much history on the gun. I now know exactly when it came to The States and who imported it (screenname). Thanks Stallones

jOe I am keeping it but it was after careful consideration and thanks again for the advice.

I shot a couple of rounds of skeet with it yesterday (low pressure reloads) and it works great and swings well. I am going to have the barrels browned, the engraving on the rib freshened up, and a shim soldered in the hook to tighten the gun up. I have asked (by email) Purdey for a letter. I put the information in there from Mr. Unsworth's book about the conversion and said that it would be helpful to me if that was included in the letter. Expect to hear back from them Monday (email).

As I said in an earlier post the gun has exceeded the expectations I had when I bought it from Stephen.

Thanks again to all for the helpful information and advice.

Does anybody have the 1994 Christie's catalogue with the gun in it?

Best,

Mike

I have the Catalog and a note or two in it . I will be happy to mail it to you.It is the November 1995 Catalog. More to come as I look thru my notes.

Here is my Wife happily holding the little Purdey in 1996 in the back yard.
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Here is the Christie's Catalog that it was in, It was sold as "Proof Exemption" and I dont understand that as it was proofed
Nitro.
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As another part of it's history, check Julia's March auction.
All the best, Mal

Thanks again Stallones. Very pretty wife and nice backyard.

Here is what Julia had in the March ecatlogue:

PURDEY 16 BORE CENTER FIRE DBL HAMMER SHOTGUN CONVERTED FROM A MUZZLELOADER. SN 4236. 28" Damascus bbls are faintly marked "J PURDEY 314-1/2 OXFORD STREET LONDON" and have Birmingham nitro proofs for 2-1/2" chambers, proofed at .700. Bbls are also marked underneath with SN 4326, "13" and other early proofs. Top lever action has engraved with open scroll engraving and has back action rebounding locks. Nicely figured European walnut stock measures 14-1/4" over orig muzzleloading buttplate. Forend has snap fastener and metal forend tip. Bore diameter: right -.710, left -.709. Bore restrictions: right -0, left -0. Wall thickness: right -.032, left -.032. Drop at comb: 1-7/8", drop at heel: 2-3/8". Weight:7lbs. 2oz. Cased in medium quality canvas case with leather corners with reproduction Purdey Label, maroon cloth interior, and two keys. CONDITION: Gun is loose, off face, and needs rejoining. Bores are a little frosty toward the breech end with a few pits throughout their length, but are mostly bright and shiny. Bbls show most of old reblack. Action is silver. Stock shows most of old oil refinish. Checkering has been recut and trigger guard has been roughly pieced together. Trigger guard screws are battered. Forend wood is shrunken around forend iron and is considerably below the metal. Case is in usable condition. Straps and handle are tight. Inside is notation that states "James Purdey & Sons #4236 1847-1848 14 Bore Muzzleloader #1 of a pair made for Dr. Harrison. 1890 returned to Purdy to be converted to a breechloader. 16 gauge. 1930, Nitroproofed at Birmingham." 4-31990 MGM16 (3,500-5,500)

I didn't get the note mentioned in the Julia auction.

The gun sold for $1,150.

Thank you Mal.

Best,

Mike

That( 1100.00) is about what I sold it for . It went for 368 pounds plus shipping etc in the 95 Catalog