James Purdey, 314 ½ Oxford Street, London.
16 bore Bar-action, Bar-in-wood, hammer gun
No. 10010, No.1 of a Pair
Year of manufacture: 1877

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Heritage Guns' Comment This gun represents a very rare opportunity to acquire an almost unique and fine condition example of a small gauge sporting hammergun made by this illustrious maker. The engraving is still crisp on the locks and action and the wood and barrels have survived remarkably well considering its 130 years. The unusual trigger guard further enhances this gun's rarity. It is of continental design, which agrees with the escutcheon which shows the arms of a Count, and is apparently so shaped to allow the continental method of holding the forend, balanced on thumb and forefinger. WE REGRET THAT THIS GUN IS NOW SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN, PLEASE CONTACT US.

The action is a Bar-in-wood design and features:
Double triggers; Grip safety;
Stanton bar-action, rebounding locks; Dolphin hammers;
Percussion fences; Sprung strikers;
Top lever operating a 'Purdey Bolt' by way of a 'Scott Spindle';
Anson forend fastener.
Gun weight 6lb 7oz Engraving style Best fine bouquet & scroll.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ½ lbs Rear trigger 4 ½ lbs
The Damascus barrels are 29 1/8" in length, chambered for 2 ½ " (65mm) cartridges and are of brazed 'dovetail' lump construction with soft soldered ribs. Top rib is of the smooth, concave, game type. There are slight bleeds along both top and bottom rib. The ribs could be re-laid but have not been so far in the interest of originality. The bores are pit free and show only the lightest of surface marks.
London reproof for 65mm nitro powder cartridges in 2008.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend are crafted from highly figured walnut. The stock is cast off for a right-handed shot and is finished with a ¾" traditional leather covered recoil pad.

The 22 lines per inch chequering has been cut to a traditional 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 (including any extensions):

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;
Stanton's rebounding lock patent no. 367 of 1867;
'Scott Spindle' patent no. 2752 of 1865;
Anson's forend fastener patent no. 3791 of 1872.