A pair of 12-bore self-opening sidelock ejector guns by J. Purdey & Sons, no. 26141/2 Built for Colonel W. Stirling
The toplevers, ribs and forend-tips engraved '1' and '2', best bouquet and foliate-scroll engraving, cocking-indicators, well-figured stocks (shortened), the replacement barrels with game-ribs engraved J. Purdey & Sons, Audley House, South Audley Street, London, England
Weight 6lb. 10oz. (No. 1) and 6lb. 10¼oz. (No. 2), 15¾in. stocks, 30in. barrels, both approx. I.C. & ½ choke, 2½in. chambers, London nitro proof
In their J. Purdey & Sons leather motor-case
Weight 6lb. 10oz. (No. 1) and 6lb. 10¼oz. (No. 2), 15¾in. stocks, 30in. barrels, both approx. I.C. & ½ choke, 2½in. chambers, London nitro proof
In their J. Purdey & Sons leather motor-case
Sold for
£42,000
inc. premium
Footnotes
- The makers have kindly confirmed that the guns were completed in 1949 for Colonel W. Stirling, and were rebarrelled by the makers in 1975. They have remained in the same family since new.
Lieutenant-Colonel William Joseph Stirling of Keir (1911-1983)
William Stirling was the eldest son of Brigadier General Archibald Stirling of Kier, and was educated at Ampleforth College and Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating in 1932. He joined the Scots Guards, and during the Second World War commanded 62 Commando before forming 2 Special Air Service in May 1943 in Philippeville, Algeria, four months after the capture of his brother David in Tunisia. 2 SAS saw service in both Sicily and Italy before returning to Britain in 1944, where the two SAS regiments were joined with two French and one Belgian unit to form the SAS Brigade of the Army Air Corps which was then deployed during the Normandy invasion, working behind the lines up until the end of the war, when they were disbanded. Stirling later became Honorary Colonel of the Scots Guards
Auction Notices
- Please note that these guns are being offered for sale by Lieutenant-Colonel W. Stirling's grandson
Category: Arms and Armour / Sporting Guns
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