**J. Purdey & Sons Best Quality Comprised Pair of 12 Gauge Shotguns

1.) 12 Gauge. 28" barrel length. SN: 16039. 2.75" chamber length. Cylinder Chokes. Casehardened frame with reblued barrel and small parts set in a straight wrist English Walnut stock featuring bordered multipoint checkering to wrist and splinter forend. Double barrel side-by side hammerless ejector sidelock shotgun with assisted opening. Item features single bead front sight on a concave barrel rib, double triggers, tang safety, and removable firing pin bushings. Sideplates are engraved J. PURDEY & SONS., with the barrel rib address reading J. PURDEY & SONS, AUDLEY HOUSE SOUTH AUDLEY STREET, LONDON. MADE OF SIR JOSEPH WHITWORTH'S FLUID-PRESSED STEEL. Lower frame marked PURDEY'S/PATENT. Barrel rib and lever are numbered 1, indicating they were paired with another firearm. Barrel flats show London proof marks consistent with production between 1896 and 1904, with the gauge and choke marks reading 12/C within a diamond. Frame and sideplates feature fine English style scroll engraving enclosing floral bouquets, a trademark feature of Best quality English shotguns. The barrel fences features floral bouquets with borders flowing over the breeches of the barrels. SAFE marking is inlaid in gold, and the toe of the stock mounts a gold square name plate with the initials T.N. De.La. This fits proud of the wood, and was likely installed by a gunsmith. Butt is bare checkered wood. Comes with a wood travel case bound in green canvas with leather corners. A James Purdey & Sons label with load label is fixed to the interior of the lid. Comes without key. Barrels are not long enough to completely fill their compartment in the case, suggesting they may have been cut down, or the case is not an original match. 14.5" length of pull. 1.75" drop to comb. 2.5" drop to heel. 0 Cast. 6.472 lbs. {C&R}

2.) 12 Gauge. 28" barrel length. SN: 23165. 2.75" chamber length. Cylinder Chokes. Casehardened frame with blued barrels and small parts in straight wrist English walnut stock featuring bordered multipoint checkering to the wrist and splinter forend, and a naked butt with checkering to wood. Double barrel side by side hammerless sidelock ejector shotgun with assisted opening. Features a single front bead sight on a concave barrel rib, double triggers, tang safety, and removable firing pin bushings. Sideplates engraved J. PURDEY & SONS. with lower frame mark reading J. PURDEY & SONS/LONDON. Barrel is engraved 2, indicating it is number 2 of a pair, with the following address reading J. PURDEY & SONS, AUDLEY HOUSE SOUTH AUDLEY STREET. LONDON. MADE OF SIR JOSEPH WHITWORTH'S FLUID-PRESSED STEEL. Barrel flats and watertables exhibit post 1904 pattern firing proof marks. The serial number of lot number 1 is applied below the barrels of this shotgun, followed by its own serial numbers, indicating their assemblage into a pair. Classical James Purdey engraving matches item 1, as does the gunsmith installed gold name plate to the toe of the stock. Comes with a leather wrapped wood travel case featuring James Purdey & Sons paper labels to the lid and the loading label no longer legible. Lock plate broken, latch missing. Case lacks key, and comes with two-piece cleaning rod, and an oiler. 14.5" length of pull. 1.75" drop to comb. 2.5" drop to heel. 0 Cast. 6.54 lbs. {C&R}

A letter from one of item 1's early owners included with the shotguns explains modifications to this item by Griffin & Howe of New York. This shotgun was originally manufactured with 30 inch barrels and designed to use 2.5" shells. Griffin & Howe shortened the barrels and extended the chambers. Second letter from James Purdey & Sons explains the possibility of building new barrels for item 1 that are Nitro Proofed, and broaches the subject of producing a second barrel set or frame.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Condition
1.) Good as Refinished. Bores are Very Bright with some light residues and dust. Blued refinish shows some muzzle wear, light scratches, and some flecked brown patina. Some gray patination forming to barrel flats. Barrel address weakened with refinish. Truggerguard finish thinning to primarily brown patina. Frame shows strong case colors fading to gray to brown patina on lower surface with finish worn on all handling surfaces. Possible light lacquer applied over the sideplates to protect the finish. Stock shows a crack forming to the wrist behind the tang, but maintains tight wood to metal fit. Scattered light handling dents to butt. Forend appears to have been exposed to moisture causing beading and staining of the finish, with all metal parts cleaned to gray patina. Crack or wood repair to left forend. Action locks up tight with the barrels on face and lever resting slightly left of center. Case shows some stains and scuffs overall, flaking leather, and some stains to the paper labels.2.) Good. Bores are Bright with some dust, and a single shallow dent to the lower left barrel 11" from the muzzle. Barrels likely refinished at some point, and show a strong finish worn off on the breech flanks with some light muzzle wear. Case colors remain strong, fading on lower frame with some gray to brown patina forming. Triggerguard finish thinning to brown patina with some scratches and streaks. Stock has some light dents, scuffs, and dull spots. Some wear to checkering. Butt retains tight wood to metal fit with a crack forming to wrist behind tang. Some dents and residues to butt. Forend shows moisture damage similar to item 1, with similar pattern of cleaning over the forend, Action locks up tight with the lever resting along the centerline. Leather tie downs cracking with stains overall, and some scuffs and abrasions to leather. Interior shows some staining, including to the label.