James Purdey, 314 ½
Oxford Street, London.
16 bore bar-action bar-in-wood hammer gun
No. 8743
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Click on these images for more detail.
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Heritage Guns' Comment
This gun represents a very rare opportunity to acquire a fine
condition example of a 16 gauge sporting hammergun made by this
illustrious maker back when the hammergun was still king of the
game shoot. The engraving is still crisp on the locks and action
and the barrels have survived remarkably well considering its 145
years. The antique replacement stock and forend are in very good
condition with no cracks in the bar as is so often found in this
style of stocking and they show a lovely figure. All in all, this
is a real gem and deserves a good home, careful maintenance and an
appreciative owner. You can be its new custodian! Perfect for game
or clays.
WE REGRET THAT
THIS GUN IS NOW SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN,
PLEASE CONTACT US.
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The
action
is a Bar-in-wood design and features:
Double
triggers;
Percussion fences;
Joseph Brazier bar-action,
rebounding locks;
High Dolphin hammers (marked internally ‘JP’);
Second Patent Thumblever operating a 'Purdey Bolt';
Cross bolt/Wedge
forend fastener.
Gun weight 6lb 5oz
Engraving style Best fine bouquet & scroll. ‘PATENT’ engraved
in an oval on the top of action.
Trigger pulls
measure approximately: Front trigger 3 lbs Rear trigger 4 ¼ lbs
The Damascus barrels are 28 7/8" 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.
The bores are essentially clean but
do have a few small vestigial pits,
left in to maintain wall thickness.
MWT’s were found approx. 6” from muzzle.
Birmingham reproof for 65mm
nitro powder cartridges in 2018.
Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:
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Nominal Proof Size
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Bore Diameter 9"
from Breech |
Minimum Wall Thickness
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Choke Constriction
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17.6mm (0.693")
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0.692+"
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0.020"
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0.005"
(Skeet)
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Left Barrel |
17.5mm (0.689")
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0.690+"
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0.022"
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0.003"
(Skeet)
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Antique replacement Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend
are crafted from highly figured walnut. The stock is
cast-off for a right-handed shot, features a vacant white metal oval
and is finished with engraved heel & toe plates secured with engraved
screws and chequering.
The forend features a
finely engraved steel tip and has a small inlet repair to its edge at
the knuckle and a small wooden plug covering the cross-bolt retaining
pin.
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Highly Figured Walnut
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The 18 lines per inch chequering is refreshed
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:
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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
1/8"
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14
3/8"
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14
1/4"
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14
3/4"
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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
1/2"
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1
5/8"
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1 7/8"
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Cast-off at Comb
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Cast-off at Heel
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1/8" (approx)
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1/4" (approx)
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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.