A Cased .400 (70-Bore Black Powder Express) percussion double barrelled two-groove sporting rifle, No. 6958 by J. Purdey, 314 Oxford Street, London. With browned damascus twist sighted barrels each rifled for a belted ball, matted along the rib between the breeches and towards the fore-sight, and signed in full forward of the folding leaf-sights from 200 to 300 yards, each leaf with central platinum line, border engraved breeches each with short platinum line and pierced platinum plug engraved with a rosette, and decorated with symmetrical foliage on the flat between, case-hardened tang engraved with symmetrical scrolling foliage, signed border engraved case-hardened serial numbered detented flat locks each decorated with foliate scrollwork and stamped with lockmakers initials IB on the inside, the mechanisms retaining their case-hardened and burnished finish, dolphin hammers decorated en suite and each with blued safety-catch in front, highly figured half-stock with cheek-piece, chequered grip and fore-end, border engraved steel mounts decorated with foliate scrollwork and comprising chequered butt-plate engraved Charge 3 Drams of No. 6 Powder and at a later date with GR on the heel, blued serial numbered trigger-guard with chequered spur, trigger-plate with long slender finial decorated with two flower-heads, and hinged circular case-hardened patch box-cover with flower-head centred on a circular arrangement of scrolling foliage within a border of repeated flowering foliage, vacant silver escutcheon, border engraved barrel-bolt escutcheons, sling mounts, replacement brass-mounted ramrod, and retaining much of its original finish: in associated partly relined and refitted oak case (no. 6190 for a percussion d.b. rifle sold on 24 July 1862) with original trade label and with some accessories including steel bullet mould serial numbered to the rifle, brass bullet mould, and steel combination tool, in its leather wallet, the interior of the lid with makers trade label, the exterior with circular vacant brass escutcheon centred on a flush-fitting brass carrying handle, London proof marks Barrel Length - 73.5cm. Overall Length - 116.5cm. **Provenance - Recorded (Unsworth p.173 & 177) as sold on 19 July 1865 for £84.0.0. Built for Sir Edward Filmer