Original Excellent British 19th Century James Purdey of London 25 Bore Big Game Percussion Rifle Serial 2057 – Made in 1830 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a magnificent Percussion hunting rifle of approximately 25 Bore, intended for “big game” as one might find when traveling to various parts of the Victorian British Empire. It was made by one of the most legendary names in high-end bespoke hunting guns, James Purdey of London. Founded in 1814 by James Purdey the Older, it continues in operation today as one of the most, if not THE most prestigious maker of hunting guns in the world. It is marked on the lock with the relatively simple PURDEY, while the top of the octagonal barrel has the full name and address of the firm listed:-

J. PURDEY 314 ½ OXFORD STREET. LONDON

This spectacular early Purdey hunting rifle has an overall length of 46 ¼ inches, fitted with a 30 inch octagonal barrel with three groove rifling. The trigger guard is marked with Purdey serial number 2057, which per NRA serialization records indicates production in 1830, just a few years after moving to the Oxford St. location. We removed the barrel to check the proofs, and it is clearly marked J.P. 2057, matching the markings on the trigger guard, and there is also the bore size of 25 marked twice. Interestingly, there are both the CROWN / GP “gunmaker’s proof”, CROWN / V “viewed”, and LION / G markings from the London Gun Company, as well as the CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS / BPC “proof” and CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS / V “viewed” marks from Birmingham. We assume this means that the barrel was made in Birmingham, but finished in London and submitted for a proof again.

The rifle features a fantastic walnut half stock, which has magnificent checkering on the wrist and fore stock areas. All the fittings are of iron / steel, except for the horn nose cap on the stock. There is no damage we can see except for a few scratches and minor dents, and it has a lovely cheek piece carved into the left butt stock. There is a rail fitted on the underside of the barrel towards the front, which has two ramrod pipes fitted. It comes with a lovely original wooden ramrod with a wide horn end for comfortable ramming. It has a brass fitting on the other end, which looks like it originally would have an end the unscrews for mounting of tools. There is also a small fitting on the underside of the butt stock for a sling, and a patch box on the right side, which still has some patches inside!

The metalwork is still in very good shape, with lots of the original bluing present on the barrel, while the other components show a bit of a gray patina, and were probably originally case hardened. The lock has a sliding safety catch for the hammer, which can be engaged at half cock, preventing the hammer from being moved to full cock until the safety is disengaged. It is still fully functional, holding at half cock, and firing at full, and the safety works great as well. We checked the bore, and it is in fantastic condition, showing very little use. It still has a bright finish, with the three wide grooves of the rifling still clearly visible. There is even a tompion muzzle plug with the rifle, though it is almost certainly more recent.

A fantastic example of an early 19th Century British Big Game rifle by the Legendary James Purdey, ready to research and display! Opportunities like this do not come by very often at all!

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: 1830
Caliber: .571 inches = 25 Bore / Gauge – three groove rifling
Ammunition Type: Cap and Ball
Barrel Length: 30 inches 
Overall Length: 46 ¼ inches
Action: Side Action Percussion Lock with Half Cock Safety
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded

History of Purdey-

Purdey was established in London in 1814, the year before the battle of Waterloo. The founder, James Purdey, had previously worked as head stocker for Joseph Manton, the foremost gunmaker of his time. Purdey set up his gun making business in Princes Street and soon moved to Manton’s former premises in Oxford Street in 1826. The original address here was 314/315 Oxford Street, however Purdy renamed it 314½ Oxford Street the following year. His last child and only son, James the Younger, was born above this shop two years later. As early as 1838, Queen Victoria is recorded as having bought a pair of Purdey pistols.

James Purdey the Younger joined the company in 1848, after which it became James Purdey & Son. He would then take over the running of the company from his father in 1858, who by that time was 74 years of age. Over his lifetime there was rapid change and development in the design of guns and rifles, essentially moving from muzzle loading flintlocks in the 1820’s to breech loading hammerless ejectors by the 1880’s. James the Younger was always at the forefront of advances in the design and building of his guns and rifles, and took out several patents for technical innovations over the years, many of which were adopted by other gunmakers.

The company was granted its first Royal Warrant in 1868 by The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, an honour that has been bestowed on the Managing Director of James Purdey & Sons Ltd by each succeeding Monarch. Today Nigel Beaumont holds the Warrants of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, HRH Prince Philip The Duke of Edinburgh and HRH The Prince of Wales.

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