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Lot 5389ANTIQUE
A cased pair of percussion conversion duelling pistols by James Purdeybuilt in 1823, the earliest known pair of Purdey duelling pistols
11 June 2012, 10:00 PDT
San FranciscoUS$40,000 - US$60,000
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A cased pair of percussion conversion duelling pistols by James Purdey
built in 1823, the earliest known pair of Purdey duelling pistols
built in 1823, the earliest known pair of Purdey duelling pistols
Numbered 492, each with 9 1/2 inch octagonal, brown twist barrel in .50 caliber smoothbore. Top flats signed J. Purdey Princess Leceister Square London. Platinum-banded patent breeches with platinum maker's marks Purdey/London and engraved platinum blow-out plugs. Scroll-engraved and sighted tangs. Detented locks with finely scroll-engraved panels and signed Purdey. Non-adjustable set triggers. Blued and scroll-engraved triggerguards with pineapple finials. Walnut half-stocks with checkered, bag-shaped butts, horn fore-end caps, silver wedge escutcheons and vacant silver wrist escutcheons. Brass-tipped rosewood ramrods. Together with associated green baize-lined walnut case, the lid with folding brass handle. Interior of lid with replaced trade label J. Purdey/Gun Manufacturer,/Princess Street/Leceister Square/From J. Mantons. Accessories include cleaning/loading rod, horn patchbox, T-shaped combination nipple wrench/cone pick, bullet mold and two tools. Also included is a letter of Waranty and Provenance from L. Patrick Unsworth, author of the book The Early Purdeys as well as a copy of his book in which he states that The earliest known existing pair of Purdey's duelling pistols are both numbered 492... The book includes a description of the guns and they are illustrated in Plates 17 and 18.
Condition: Very good. Guns retain much old rebrowned finish showing some minor patches of spotting/light pitting. Breeches and locks with dark grey patina. Sound wood showing scattered small marks. Case lid showing numerous small marks and one hairline crack;interior of lid with small area of missing baize and glued remains from previous label, the Purdey label possibly a facsimile. Lining showing wear, staining and some small tears.
See Illustration
Condition: Very good. Guns retain much old rebrowned finish showing some minor patches of spotting/light pitting. Breeches and locks with dark grey patina. Sound wood showing scattered small marks. Case lid showing numerous small marks and one hairline crack;interior of lid with small area of missing baize and glued remains from previous label, the Purdey label possibly a facsimile. Lining showing wear, staining and some small tears.
See Illustration








