Product Details
J. PURDEY & SONS
A PAIR OF 12-BORE SELF-OPENING SIDELOCK EJECTORS, serial no. 15897 / 8,
29in. nitro chopperlump barrels (No.1 reproved, No.2 bore dimensions marginal), ribs engraved '1' and '2 at the breech ends, address engraving indistinct, 2 1/2in. chambers, bored approx. true cyl. and 1/2 choke, wall thicknesses below recommended minimum, toplevers engraved '1' and '2', removable striker discs, automatic safeties with gold-inlaid 'SAFE' details, arrow cocking-indicators, articulated front triggers, best engraving of acanthus scrollwork with floral bouquets, brushed finish overall, 14 5/8in. figured stocks including wooden buttplates, No.1 with crack at head, chipped to rear of right lockplate and ejectors requiring attention, fore-end No.2 with light damage to woodwork at knuckle, weight 6lb. 9oz., in their brass-cornered oak and leather case with original charges label
Provenance: The makers have kindly confirmed that this pair was completed on 3rd August, 1897. They were originally sold to a W. Illingworth, then resold in 1906 to Hon. Charles Fitzwilliam
The vendor has kindly informed us that this pair of guns belonged to his Grandfather, Mr R.F. Dennis, one of the six guns who shot on the record breaking partridge shoot at Rothwell in Lincolnshire on the 3rd October 1952.
The day, accounting for a record bag of 2119 wild partridge (all but 50 greys) was hosted by Sir Joseph Nickerson and eclipsed the previous longstanding record bag of 1,671 greys, established in 1905 at Lord Leicester's Holkham estate.
For an in depth and very personal recounting of the day and the meticulous planning and conservation work involved, please see Rosie Nickerson's article 'Record Bag on the great grey day', reproduced with the kind permission of Rosie Nickerson and The Field magazine: CLICK HERE
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Estimate £5,000-7,000
S2