Product Details
J. PURDEY & SONS
A VIRTUALLY UNUSED PAIR OF LIGHTWEIGHT 12-BORE SELF-OPENING SIDELOCK EJECTORS, serial no. 28561 / 2,
28in. nitro chopperlump barrels, ribs engraved '1' and '2' and 'J. PURDEY & SONS. AUDLEY HOUSE, SOUTH AUDLEY STREET, LONDON, ENGLAND.', 2 1/2in. chambers, bored approx. 1/4 and 1/2 choke, self-opening actions with removable striker discs, automatic safeties with gold-inlaid 'SAFE' details, cocking-indicators, best bouquet and scroll engraving, retaining virtually full original colour-hardening and finish, 15in. figured stocks, weight 6lb. 5oz., in their lightweight leather motor case
Provenance: This pair were built for the vendor's father, A.S. Edgar, completed in 1982 and have seen very little use since.
Edgar was from the Samuel family who founded the reputable chain of jewellers in the 1860s and, indeed, held the position of Chairman, the last of his direct family to do so. The vendor's great great grandmother, Harriet Samuel, inherited a jewellery business which she then gave her name to. Her son, Edgar Samuel, a great entrepreneur of the time expanded the company considerably and at the same time changed his surname to Edgar, the Samuel being kept solely as a middle name. By the time he passed the company to his sons Samuels had over one hundred outlets.
A.S. Edgar followed his forebears in choosing Purdey to build his guns and used them to great effect on his two shoots in Hampshire as well as the family estate in Scotland. Edgar was also a keen rod and an active farmer whose true love, despite his shooting and fishing diversions, was riding to hounds. He was MFH for three hunts beginning with the Hampshire Hunt (HH) in the 1960s. It is said that he was a gentleman in the real sense of the word and took a keen interest in the welfare of his fellow countrymen and their way of life.
Estimate £50,000-70,000
THE ABOVE LOT WILL REQUIRE THE BUYER TO PRODUCE A RELEVANT BRITISH SHOTGUN CERTIFICATE OR REGISTERED FIREARMS DEALER LICENCE BEFORE IT MAY BE RELEASED.