JAMES PURDEY NO. 19689 A RARE AWARD WINNING ROUND FRAME HAMMER PIGEON GUN WITH ORIGINAL CASE, ACCESSORIES & FACTORY LETTER

JAMES PURDEY NO. 19689 A RARE AWARD WINNING ROUND FRAME HAMMER PIGEON GUN WITH ORIGINAL CASE, ACCESSORIES & FACTORY LETTER

| Cal. 12 | Ga. 3″ (non-magnum). | S# 19689. | 26-1011/MGM |

This superb Purdey pigeon gun was the “Gold Medal Winner in Vintage Hammer Gun Class at the 10th Gold Medal Concours d’Elegance of Fine Guns” Milbrook, NY in 2005. Factory specifications indicate it was completed in May of 1910 for Mr. R. Rainey, and list it as having “rounded bar”; “clip sides and third grip”; “31” barrels – 3″ chambers (non-magnum)”; “full choke both”; “loose front trigger”; “sandblasted rib”; and “Silvers heel plate covered with leather”. Stock dimensions are also given. Gun remains in this configuration today. The 31″ chopper lump barrels are engraved “J. Purdey & Sons, Audley House, South Audley Street, London.” on top of left barrel and “Made of Sir Joseph Whitworths Fluid-Pressed Steel.” on right. Barrel flats are stamped with London nitro proofs for 1-1/4 oz. shot and with “LC” (Long Chamber) mark. Bottoms of barrel are both stamped “CHOKE” and with S#’s. Barrel maker’s initials “S.S” (Sam Simons) are on left barrel. Tube numbers “19246” & “19247” are on loop. Very rare; (only one known); rounded bar top lever Purdey hammer action features side clips, hidden third fastener and hinged front trigger. Bar locks with exceptionally strong main springs are fitted with atypically shaped short flat faced serpentine hammers with stylized dolphin heads. This combination gives lightening fast lock time for precision shooting. Action and locks are engraved with typical Purdey house style rose & scroll with maker’s name on each lockplate as well as name and address on bottom of action. Blued trigger guard has typical open scroll on bow and S# on tang. Very nicely marbled and lightly figured European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 15″ over black leather covered pad and features drop points and point pattern grip checkering. Matching splinter forend has Anson release. Iron is stamped with the initials “A.F” (the celebrated Purdey actioner Alf Fullalove). MEASUREMENTS: BBLS: Bore Diameter: L .730., .003 recess. R. .730., .002 recess. Restriction: L .030. R .021. Wall Thickness: L .034. R .039. STOCK: DAH: 1-7/8″. DAC: 1-5/8″-. CAST: slightly off. LOP: 15″. WEIGHT: 7 lb. 6 oz. (a very close match to original specifications with weight given as 7lb 7oz., bend: 1-1/4″ & 1-3/4″, length 15-3/8″, and 1/32″ cast off). UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: Certificate Gold Medal Concours Winner, 2- emails from Purdey with specifications, 2- patterning papers, 1 left 1 right, showing extremely tight even full choke patterns. (Patterns are shot at 20 yards and show 94% right & 95% left, inside a 15″ circle. Right barrel shows 57% inside of 8″circle; while left shows 66%. These patterns are truly exceptional!) Original oak and leather case with brass corners and central medallion which is lined in scarlet cloth. A correct period James Purdey black leather gold embossed label is in lid along with charge card for this particular gun. Case contains ebony handled striker nipple key, one small turn screw, bone striker bottle, pull through cleaning kit, Purdey marked square oil bottle, pair of Purdey snap caps, along with straps for exterior of case as well as the key. Cleaning equipment consists of 2-piece greenheart and brass cleaning rod with short handle section which is engraved “LW”. This section is threaded for extra-long front section of rod and various brushes and jag. Purdey Factory Letter with specifications as above (ledger entry copied on back; barrel length not indicated). CURIO GUN