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Purdey ''C'' Quality Back-Action Lock Hammer Double

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:2,250.00 USD
Purdey ''C'' Quality Back-Action Lock Hammer Double
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Antique Purdey ''C'' Quality Back-Action Lock Hammer Double Rifle, #12030, .45/.400 Black Powder Express cal., 28'' barrels, blue and case hardened finish, with fancy checkered pistol-grip cheekpiece English walnut stock and splinter forend, with sling swivel eyelets. Copy of Purdey factory letter states mfg'd in 1885 for Lord Walter Charles Gordon-Lennox (1865-1922), who was a Conservative Party politician. He served as Treasurer of the Household from 1891-1892 under Lord Salisbury, and an interesting caricature was published in the Feb. 1892 issue of Vanity Fair. Educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, he entered Parliament in 1888. Double rifle also features lever over guard (rotary underlever), rebounding locks, and bolted in front of the hammers. LOP is 14-5/8''. Condition is fine. Barrels have been re-blackened at one point, with minor chatter marks about 2/3s down the length of the barrel on top of the sighting plane. Lightly engraved vignette motif to frame, locks and hammer retain all their Victorian charm, although left side of frame with light pitting obscures a small portion. Both locks are neatly marked ''J. Purdey & Sons'', with barrel in front of two-leaf Express sight marked ''J. Purdey & Sons, Audley House, South Audley St. London''. English walnut stock is marked ''B.2143'' on right side near checkered wooden butt. Double shadow line cheekpiece retains almost all of its detail, but pistol grip and forend checks have flattened moderately with dings and scuffs overall. Stock has been repaired with fracture emanating from top point of frame tang and rolling around to the left side thru the lock, stopping at the trigger guard, no doubt from being set down too hard at one point. Action functions as designed, bores are bright. All in a later post-war case, possibly of Spanish origin. Est.: $4,500-$6,000. (Antique)