Product Details
J. PURDEY
A 12-BORE 1863 PATENT (SECOND PATTERN) THUMBHOLE-UNDERLEVER SNAP-ACTION HAMMERGUN, serial no. 7580,
30in. nitro reproved bold damascus barrels, sunken rib engraved 'J. PURDEY 314 1/2 OXFORD STREET. LONDON', and '2', 2 1/2in. chambers, bored approx. true cyl. in both, some external pitting, action incorporating J. Purdey 1863 second pattern thumbhole underlever and Purdey 1863 double bite, patent no. 1104 of 2nd May 1863, carved percussion fences, rebounding back-action island locks with dolphin hammers, fine border and acanthus scroll engraving, retaining slight traces of original colour-hardening, 14 3/8in. stock including horn buttplate, fore-end with light damage, weight 6lb. 5oz.; together with an original Purdey oak percussion gun case (internal blocking loose) with secondary handwritten instruction label, dated 'December 1867' and serial numbered for gun No. 7580
Provenance: The makers have kindly confirmed that this gun was completed in 1867 with 30in. barrels for Lord Fitzgerald.
Gerald FitzGerald, 5th Duke of Leinster (16th August 1851 - 1st December 1893) was born in Dublin, and married lady Hermione Wilhelmina Duncombe in 1884.
The vendor has kindly provided us with the following information regarding the more recent history of this gun.
The gun was previously owned by Captain (RN) Rudolph Henry Fane de Salis D.S.C., O.B.E (1890 - 1972), who fought in the First World War, decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross in 1916 (with bar in 1917), and was invested as an Officer, Order of the British Empire in 1935. He fought in the Second World War, and was mentioned in despatches twice.
The gun was passed to his great nephew, Captain Herbert Richard Westmacott.
Captain Herbert Richard Westmacott (11th January 1952 - 2nd May 1980) was a British Army officer who was the first person to be awarded a posthumous Military Cross.
Whilst on Extra Regimental Employment to the SAS, he was killed in Belfast, Northern Ireland in an encounter with the Provisional Irish Republican Army whilst on an operation to recover an M60 machine gun stolen from an armoury in Denver, Colorado
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Estimate £1,000-1,500
S2