Beautiful !

http://shootingsportsman.com/fifth-oldes...=ODgxMzg0MTg5S0

I spoke to David once about this gun and he mentioned that he offered it to Purdey's for purchase a few years ago and they wouldn't even make an offer. I love how he handled the disposition of the gun. Reminds me of a quote I saw at the entrance to a bar once..."We've upped our standards, so up yours!"

Love those old percussion English doubles. Taken everywhere and used hard.

Right Owenjj3, I had that discussion with David as well and he told me that Richard said they had enough very early Purdey guns on display and in storage cases that they really couldn't use another.


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Similar situation. I found an intact American Indian dug-out canoe once when a local natural pond developed a sink hole and drained. You could still see the burn marks inside where it had been shaped.

I offered it to the University of Florida but they said they had about 40 of them sunk in ponds all over the campus for preservation and study. That was during a drought period when lakes all over North Florida were draining out. Finally gave it to the local historical society...Geo

This is a very nice gun.

I'm told by someone who was there this gun went to a phone bidder. Also told this past auction was a good one if you were in the market to buy a huntable Purdey with a higher S/N. Per my source, a number of very nice examples went in the $6k range.

Beautiful gun.

I remember when you could buy this quality gun at Friendship, IN at the NMLRA National Match, in the "sheep shed", for under $1500. However, that was in the mid '80s. A lot has changed, but top-of-the-line m/l doubles are still a bargain for the quality you get. Kirby Hoyt had a Boss m/l double for sale a few years back for $3900. That's right, a Thomas Boss.

SRH

This got my attention - $6k for a Purdey in usable/nice condition? Which auction?

The locks need new swivels as the spring is coming below the lock plate when in the fired position .

Not certain that is a problem with the swivels. This may have occurred in the switch from flint to percussion. Not certain what all was changed in the conversion, but normally on a lock of this type the tumbler should rest against a stop which would prevent the spring from expanding to this extent. Perhaps this gun is early enough that "Flaw" had not yet been worked out & the flint hammer itself stopped the motion.
With the locks off the gun as shown the percussion hammers are in a much lower position than the nipples would allow them, so not likely the spring is hitting the wood when the locks are mounted. While this is not an Ideal condition it likely would present no problem in actual use. Not likely of course the gun is going to see much use. anyway.

A beautiful gun and tastefully restored. Barrels made by Charles Lancaster. That would fit nice in my collection! Lagopus.....