J. PURDEY NO. 583 A VERY EARLY PERCUSSION 20 BORE DOUBLE GAME GUN WITH CASE. POSSIBLY THE FIRST PURDEY GUN TO HAVE FENCES (FLASH SHIELDS) AS PART OF THE BREECH IRON

J. PURDEY NO. 583 A VERY EARLY PERCUSSION 20 BORE DOUBLE GAME GUN WITH CASE. POSSIBLY THE FIRST PURDEY GUN TO HAVE FENCES (FLASH SHIELDS) AS PART OF THE BREECH IRON

| Cal. 20 Ga. | S# 583. | 01-29004/MGM |

James Purdey is thought by many to be the inventor of the percussion ignition system as we know it today. Purdey worked as a lock filer to Alexander Forsyth during the development of early percussion guns. It is known that Purdey was one of the first to produce guns using the percussion nipple even though this major advancement was not patented. This gun No. 583 dates to around 1824 and is the earliest gun known to have flash shields as part of the “false breech” or breech iron. L. Patrick Unsworth in “The Early Purdeys” lists No. 672 as: “This is the first piece known to have the “back shield” as part of the false breech”. 90 guns (about 8 months production) separate the two. All previous guns had the flash shield filed in as part of the lockplate. This fine gun has 30″ laminated steel barrels fitted with raised game rib engraved “I. Purdey Princes Street. Leicester Square. London.” (Purdey’s earliest address). Bottoms of barrels are stamped with S#, London proofs and “CL” (the celebrated Charles Lancaster barrel forger). Patent breeches with vented platinum blow outs are un-numbered, have platinum bands at rear and rib extension with feather engraving. Early style ring turned nipples are possibly original and stamped “R” & “L”. An ebony ramrod with steel tip and brass tail (worm under cap) is not numbered and mounts through two plain pipes. Breech iron with integral fences is engraved with well cut shaded scroll. Bar locks with high flat faced serpentine hammers have dolphin style heads. Locks and hammers are engraved with exceptionally well cut open scroll which terminate in sea monsters heads on lockplates in very early Purdey fashion. Trigger plate has stylized pineapple finial engraved in seashell motif. Blued trigger guard has open scroll and perching birds on bow; S# is engraved horizontally on long tang. Stock made of a very attractive piece of flesh toned European walnut with fiddle figure and dramatic marbling measures 14-1/4″ over steel buttplate with scroll engraved long top tang. Point pattern checkering is at grip and around forend. A vacant silver rectangle is at top of grip. Thimble is engraved with central feather burst. Stock attaches to barrels with captive sidebolt through oval silver escutcheons. MEASUREMENTS: BBLS: Bore Diameter: L .616. R .616. Restriction: L .000 (cyl). R .000 (cyl). STOCK: DAH: 1-7/8″. DAC: 1-1/2″. CAST: slightly off. LOP: 14-1/4″. WEIGHT: 6 lb. 8 oz. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: gun is housed in a vintage mahogany case with flush mounted folding handle and brass reinforced corners. Interior is lined in green cloth. Purdey Factory letter indicating gun was completed CA 1822, built for a Capt. Clive and confirming stock measurements. (Ledger listing copied on back.) PROVENANCE: Malcolm G. MacGregor Collection. ANTIQUE GUN