JAMES PURDEY NO. 25036 A RARE 30 PURDEY DOUBLE EJECTOR RIFLE (7 FOUND IN RECORDS) WITH REINFORCED FRAME CASE, ACCESSORIES & FACTORY LETTER

JAMES PURDEY NO. 25036 A RARE 30 PURDEY DOUBLE EJECTOR RIFLE (7 FOUND IN RECORDS) WITH REINFORCED FRAME CASE, ACCESSORIES & FACTORY LETTER

26-1012 | Cal. 30 Purdey (30-40 Krag). | S# 25036.

During the 1930’s in an effort to keep the factory open and long time workmen employed; Purdey’s added this venerable cartridge (30-40 Krag) to its propriatary line-up in hopes of increasing sales to well heeled clients especially Maharajas. Records indicate they sold 7; the first being in 1933. This rifle was completed in June 1937 for H.H. The Maharana Sahib Bahadur of Udaipor. It has 25″ chopper lump barrels fitted with stippled quarter rib holding one standing one folding leaf express rear and gold bead front sight in short tall stippled ramp with slip-on cover. Sunken mid section is engraved “J. Purdey & Sons Audley House, South Audley Street, London, England.” Barrel flats are stamped with London nitro proofs for 30 caliber 2.31″ cartridge. Bottoms of barrels are stamped with S#s and “S.S.” (long time barrel maker Sam Simons working before 1912). Tube numbers “62463” & “62464” are on loop. A sling loop is soldered to bottom rib. Relatively small Beesley patent sidelock action with reinforcing bolsters is also fitted with automatic bolted safety (“SAFE” & “BOLTED” in gold), third fastener engaging short rib extension on barrel, side clips, bushed strikers, raised rib tumbler end cocking indicators, and double triggers. Action and lockplates are engraved with very nicely cut Purdey house style rose & scroll. “J. Purdey & Sons” is on each lockplate and also on bottom of action over “London” “England”. Blued trigger guard is engraved with open scroll on bow and S# on tang which extends to engraved steel grip cap. Pistol grip buttstock made of darkly veined and stump figured European walnut measures 14-3/4″ over Silver pad (in records). Stock features double shadow line right hand cheekpiece, standard drop points, point pattern grip checkering and sling loop matching that on barrel. A gold oval on toeline is engraved with a monogram “MRBS” (in records). Matching splinter late style ejector forend with Anson release is stamped with actioner’s initials “F.W.” (Fred Williams, who had been with Purdey’s since before 1889.). MEASUREMENTS: CAST: neutral. LOP: 14-3/4″. WEIGHT: 8 lb. 6 oz. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: rifle is housed in original oak and leather case with brass corners and central medallion with scratched in sanskrit initials. Interior is lined in burgundy cloth and has black leather gold embossed Purdey label in lid and two smaller paper information labels. Case contains brass cleaning rod, snap caps, bone striker bottle with spare strikers, black handled turn screw and striker key, various brushes, Purdey marked square oil bottle, pull through cleaning kit and two correct keys in covered compartment. Purdey Factory Letter with specifications. (Ledger listing copied on back.).  PROVENANCE: Malcolm G. MacGregor Collection. STATUS: CURIO.