doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Double Rifles, Paradox Guns & Gauge Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Purdey DR in 450/400 2 7/8"

After the usual (and long) wait required for importing from the UK, I have in hand a beautiful Purdey double rifle in 450/400 2 7/8"s. Through a quirk of luck, Buffalo Arms had brass in stock, and now that I've cast the chambers, more brass and bullets are inbound.

The rifle was built in 1895 to match an earlier gun, and sent out in-the-black initially, and returned for engraving. Black powder proofs.

* Regulated with 31⁄2 drams of No. 6 Black Powder and Eley’s papered bullet
* Sighted with half of the bead in the bottom edge of the spot to strike centrally at 100 & 200 yards
* Barrels 28" of Whitworth steel
* Weight 7lbs, 13oz, LOP 14.75"

The condition is quite nice, almost new. All finishes are original.

A kind gentleman on another forum was nice enough to post the Eley shop drawings for this round, which is nice, as Cartridges of the World fails to mention it at all. Their drawing confirms that the base case is the 450 BPE 3 1/4" straight case, necked down and trimmed. Bullets are 230grn LRNs, copper-tubed and paper patched. Apparently a 255gr solid point was also offered. Patched diameter is .410", bare bullet is .403". The blue print even defines the patch dimensions (0.80" high, 2.7" long, 0.002" thick white paper)

I will now commence teaching myself yet again how to paste images....

[img]https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/oo201/returnspring/IMG_3341_oYhsHQuoSDjuDzArvw6CrE.HEIC[/img]

(this might be too large an image. not sure. working with a Photobucket for the first time in years. had been using imgur but their UI keeps changing.)

CJF,

I saw that gun and it is a great gun. The originality is outstanding. I have a 3.25” rifle finished in Aug 1895. This is the original load data:

Charge: 90 Grains, No. 6 powder, over a card & felt wad
Bullet: Papered Eley
Case: 3¼in. solid drawn

I’m using NfB loads and still working on it. Hopefully, you’ll get yours up and shooting well.

Ken

Thanks Ken. It's rather surprising that my rifle uses the shorter cases but calls for 3.5 drams or 96 grains of No. 6 powder. It's cool that yours was also made in the same year. Have you posted pics?

Chris

Here are some more pics. Note that the removable striker discs are still blue and unmarred, and the checkering and engraving are super sharp. The only defect I've seen so far is it looks like the left lock plate was removed or re-inserted poorly and some of the grain at the back of the mortice looks off. Still, I hope I look this good when I'm 129 years old.

Chris,

Your pictures are great! I also like the steel buttplate treatment. My gun still has the original recoil pad. Here’s a poor picture:



Ken

Wow, Chris, that’s an amazing rifle! I can’t believe the high condition. It’s funny earlier today I was admiring the Purdey rifle at the link below. Their rose and scroll engraving is unmatched. Let us know how the loading and shooting goes.

https://www.gunsinternational.com/g...bores-like-new--cas.cfm?gun_id=101788828

Very nice Chris!
Hope you can get it going by next springs DR match in Tennessee.
I recently traded a Purdey DR for an Alexander Henry DR - long story, but I’ll tell next time we meet.
Congratulations

Ken - looks like a great rifle. I have case envy...mine came with a decent leather/oak/brass case, but nothing original. I love how the Purdey rifle cases have those boxed cutouts in the lid to allow room for the front and rear sights.

Earlyriser - thank you for the kind worlds. It is a looker. Re that Purdey on GI, I love the way it looks...a beauty.

Rick - I sure hope I can get it going by then. I've never been to that DR match. Is that for hammer and hammerless doubles? Looking forward to seeing your AH. I have one; lots and lots of original finish and pretty wood, but a plain unengraved rifle.