JAMES PURDEY NO. 18499 A RARE HAMMER EJECTOR GAME GUN NO. 8 IN THE BATTERY OF THE EARL OF PORTSMOUTH WITH CASE, ACCESSORIES & FACTORY LETTERS & PHOTOCOPY OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE EARL

JAMES PURDEY NO. 18499 A RARE HAMMER EJECTOR GAME GUN NO. 8 IN THE BATTERY OF THE EARL OF PORTSMOUTH WITH CASE, ACCESSORIES & FACTORY LETTERS & PHOTOCOPY OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE EARL

| Cal. 12 Ga. | 2-1/2″. | S# 18499. | 26-1013/MGM |

It has been estimated that Purdey’s only made about 50 hammer guns that were fitted with ejectors. This gun completed in 1905 for the Earl of Portsmouth is listed as “Hammer Back action Ejector”. It presently has 28″ dovetailed barrels engraved “New Barrels by G. Bate, Gunmaker, Birmingham” on narrow swamped game rib. Barrel flats are stamped with Birmingham nitro proofs for 1-1/8 oz shot. Bate No. 3579 is on splinter. Round bodied case-hardened top lever action is fitted with island back spring locks having tall serpentine hammers. Action and locks are engraved with Purdey house style rose & scroll. “J. Purdey & Sons” is on each lock plate. Top lever is engraved “8” as noted in record. Trigger guard has open scroll on bow and S# on tang. Buttstock made of a striking piece of dark marbled and stump figured European walnut measures 14-3/8″ over ancient leather covered silver pad. Flat top point pattern checkering is around grip, and toe line is fitted with gold oval engraved with an Earl’s crown over “P”. Matching splinter Wem ejector for end with Anson release is stamped with actioner’s initial “S” (Most likely Fred Smith.). MEASUREMENTS: BBLS: Bore Diameter: L .734. R .731. Restriction: L .044 (Full). R .027 (IMod). Wall Thickness: L .026. R .022. STOCK: DAH: 2-1/8″. DAC: 1-1/2″. CAST: about 1/2″ off. LOP: 14-3/8″. WEIGHT: 6 lb. 6 oz. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: gun is housed in its original oak and leather case with brass corners and central medallion. Case is lined in scarlet cloth and has small Purdey paper label in lid; lightly inscribed “Bate”. Case contains rare Purdey marked two-piece rosewood and brass cleaning rod with short handle section, square oil bottle, broken case extractor, and snap caps. Other accessories include: a horn handled chamber brush, pull through cleaning kit, small glass bottle resembling a shot shell holding a spare striker, along with exterior case straps. A 2004 dated Purdey Factory Letter with specifications and 2-page photocopy from “Debrett’s Peerage” with info on the Earl of Portsmouth. Also, recent Purdey Factory Letter with ledger listing copied on back. PROVENANCE: Malcolm G. MacGregor Collection. CURIO GUN