Purdey percussion at auction
- Thread starter mbatten
- Start date
I expect it is an Irish registration number. WA for Waterford in SE Ireland. Registration of firearms was required in Ireland and the marks are for the county and the firearm number.
A letter to Purdey would be in order. I believe their records would reveal for whom the rifle was made, and when.
A letter to Purdey would be in order. I believe their records would reveal for whom the rifle was made, and when.
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I have been watching the Purdey also, and I agree on the Irish registation numbers on my research is in the book the early Purdeys, serial number shows that gun made in 1836 and also sold with a extra 36 inch barrel (not stated if it was a shotgun barrel or not) but was says 16 bore. so a little confusion there, I am guessing not the original case but is isnt stated to be the original case either. So the records are either wrong on caliber or the mold isnt correct. The double 12 is a nice gun but the 4 bore confuses me also with the 33 inch barrel and no ramrod, almost as if it was a heavy live pigion gun that got rifled but who knows as many things were done in different ways
never thjought of that most of the big bore guns I have handled were usally back up guns and shorter and it is very interesting gun. The maple stock is another uncommon feature.
this is a 8 bore marked Bortha out of cape town compared to a TC hawken, the ball is .810 diameter
this is a 8 bore marked Bortha out of cape town compared to a TC hawken, the ball is .810 diameter
It turns out that this old Purdey rifle #2765 has an interesting provenance.
Purdey's record book for 1835 shows that it was ordered by Henry de La Poer Beresford, the 3rd Marquis of Waterford, at a cost of just over 39 pounds. He was also known as the 'Mad Marquess of Waterford', a mischievous fellow who may have been responsible for the expression “paint the town red".
A pair of his Lancaster howdah pistols sold at Holt's not long ago:
https://www.holtsauctioneers.com/asp/fullcatalogue.asp?salelot=A0324++++699+&refno=++210704
The original rifle case was mahogany, but it is now cased in oak, and engraved 'Edward Whitacre Davies Royal Canadian Rifles' on the brass carry-ring.
The 'Royal Canadian Rifles' was a British regiment that existed in Canada between 1840 and 1870. That may explain how the gun ended up on this side of the pond.
Coincidentally, a nearby collector friend once owned a Purdey percussion double rifle that was also made for the 'Mad Marquis'.
One never knows what stories these old pieces can tell!
View attachment 1074759
Purdey's record book for 1835 shows that it was ordered by Henry de La Poer Beresford, the 3rd Marquis of Waterford, at a cost of just over 39 pounds. He was also known as the 'Mad Marquess of Waterford', a mischievous fellow who may have been responsible for the expression “paint the town red".
A pair of his Lancaster howdah pistols sold at Holt's not long ago:
https://www.holtsauctioneers.com/asp/fullcatalogue.asp?salelot=A0324++++699+&refno=++210704
The original rifle case was mahogany, but it is now cased in oak, and engraved 'Edward Whitacre Davies Royal Canadian Rifles' on the brass carry-ring.
The 'Royal Canadian Rifles' was a British regiment that existed in Canada between 1840 and 1870. That may explain how the gun ended up on this side of the pond.
Coincidentally, a nearby collector friend once owned a Purdey percussion double rifle that was also made for the 'Mad Marquis'.
One never knows what stories these old pieces can tell!
View attachment 1074759
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