A Cased .650 (16-Bore) Percussion D.B. Sporting Rifle By J. Purdey, 314 Oxford Street, London, No. 3170 For 1838.

With browned damascus twist sighted barrels signed in full along the rib and each rifled with ten spiral grooves, blued back-sight to 80 yards and with central platinum line, border engraved case-hardened breeches each with short platinum line and pierced platinum plug, and decorated with a symmetrical foliate motif on the flat between, case-hardened tang engraved with scrolling foliage, signed border engraved case-hardened serial numbered detented flat locks each decorated with foliate scrollwork, the mechanisms retaining their 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 blued steel mounts comprising chequered butt-plate decorated with a stag in a landscape and foliage along the heel tang, serial numbered trigger-guard with chequered spur and decorated with a running stag in a landscape between borders of repeated flowering foliage on the bow, case-hardened trigger-plate with scrollwork on the pointed finial, hinged circular case-hardened patch-box cover decorated with a flower-head centred on a circular arrangement of feathering within a border en suite with the trigger-guard, border engraved barrel-bolt escutcheons, grooved forward trigger, sling button engraved with a circular feathered design, original serial numbered brass-mounted ramrod, and retaining most of its original finish: in a green lined mahogany case with accessories including brass-mounted powder-flask with bag-shaped planished tin body, steel bullet-mould and sprue-cutter, and steel combination tool, in its leather wallet, the interior of the lid with reproduction makers trade label, the exterior with circular vacant brass escutcheon centred on a flush-fitting brass carrying handle engraved John B. Ross, London proof marks and James Purdeys barrelsmiths mark

Barrel Length - 72.5cm. Overall Length - 115.5cm.

Provenance - The Thomas R. Prudenete Collection, Christies South Kensington, Fine Antique Arms, Armour And Sporting Guns..., 17 December 2015, lot 94 Literature - Unsworth, p. 153. Built for a Captain des Voeux and completed on 3 August 1838 at a cost of £84.0.0.