James Purdey, 314 ½ Oxford Street,
London.
12 bore Back-action Hammergun
no. 8393
Year of manufacture: 1871
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Click on these images for more detail.
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Heritage Guns' Comment This gun represents an unusually
fine condition example of the early sporting hammerguns made by
this illustrious maker. The engraving is still crisp on the locks
and action and this coupled with the sensitive restoration, excellent
wall thicknesses and good stock dimensions makes it a very pretty
and highly 'shootable' gun for either game or clays. 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 Patent Thumb Hole' design and features:
Double triggers;
Back action 'Island', rebounding locks with 'Dolphin' hammers;
Sprung strikers; Percussion fences;
'Thumb hole' lever operating a 'Purdey Bolt';
Cross bolt, or 'Wedge', forend fastener.
Gun weight 6lb 8 ½ oz Engraving style Best fine
foliate scroll.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 4 lbs Rear
trigger 4 lbs
The TIG sleeved damascus to steel barrels are 28" in length,
chambered for 2 ¾" (70mm) cartridges and are of brazed 'dovetail'
lump construction with soft soldered ribs.
Top rib is of the smooth, concave, game type.
London reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2011.
Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:
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Nominal Proof Size
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Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
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Minimum Wall Thickness
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Choke Constriction
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| Right Barrel |
18.5mm (0.728")
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0.727"
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0.036"
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0.011" (IC)
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| Left Barrel |
18.5mm (0.728")
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0.727"
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0.036"
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0.019" (Mod)
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Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend are
crafted from highly figured walnut. The stock carries neutral cast,
features a white metal oval engraved 'RW' and is finished with engraved
heel & toe plates and chequered wood. The forend is retained by
a Cross-bolt, or Wedge, catch and is fitted with a delightfully engraved
metal tip.
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Highly figured walnut
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The 20 lines per inch chequering has been freshened to a normal sidelock design and the stock features well defined drop points, a white metal escutcheon is engraved with 'TW' and the stock is finished with engraved heel and toe plates, chequered between.
The 20 lines per inch chequering has been cut to a traditional back lock design. There is a wood inlet to the front right edge of the forend. 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:
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Pull to Heel
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Pull to Bump
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Pull to Centre
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Pull to Toe
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14 1/2"
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14 5/8"
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14 1/2"
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15"
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Drop at Comb
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Drop at Face
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Drop at Heel
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1 5/8"
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1 3/4"
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2
5/16 "
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Cast at Comb
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Cast at Heel
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Nil
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Negligible
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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.