A Cased .500 (38 Bore) Pinfire Double Barrelled Sporting Rifle By J. Purdey, 314 Oxford Street, London. Circa for 1866. With damascus twist sighted barrels retaining trace of browning and each rifled with six spiral grooves. Barrels 76.2cm. Matted along the rib at the breech and towards the foresight, and signed in full along the rib forward of the folding leaf-sights from 80 to 200 yards, each leaf with central platinum line. Long slender border engraved tang decorated with foliage scrollwork.

Swept fences each engraved with a starburst, the case hardened rounded action, long guard rotary underlever with ring terminal on the serial numbered chequered spur, signed border engraved case hardened serial numbered detented back action locks and dolphin hammers all decorated en suite, the latter each with blued safety catch. Chequered steel butt plate engraved CHARGE over 3 No. 6 POWDER on the heel. Highly figured butt with cheek piece and chequered grip, chequered detachable forend with engraved steel mounts. Vacant silver escutcheon, sling mounts, and retaining some original finish. In contemporary oak case (no. 7489 for a 12-bore centrefire double barrelled hammer gun built in 1867 for a Mr. J.S. Mackenzie) fitted and lined in burgundy baize with some accessories. The interior of the lid with makers trade label with handwritten loading instructions. The exterior with circular vacant brass escutcheon centred on a flush fitting brass carrying handle, London proof marks.

Provenance: Acquired at some time during the 1970s from the Bowes-Lyon family formerly of Streatlam Castle, near Barnard Castle, Co. Durham.

Literature: Unsworth, p. 177. Built for Mr. Timothy Hutchinson and completed on 6 July 1866 at a cost of £88.0.0.

Dallas, p. 193

Timothy Hutchinson (1818-1904) was the owner of Egglestone Hall and estate in County Durham. He appears to have derived his income from tenant farmers, renting the thirty farms in his ownership. He is perhaps one of Purdeys most prolific clients, buying some 225 arms between 1846 and 1896. Many of these appear to have been purchased for a particular guest, as they were often returned to Purdey (usually at a loss), with the credit being placed against his next purchase. Amongst his many purchases were two pairs of guns made for the Paris Exhibition of 1878: A pair of ebonised 28 bore centrefire hammer guns; and a pair of gold-inlaid 16 bore centre fire hammer guns with maple stocks. The latter pair remained with him for eight years, and after being returned to Purdey were resold to Lord Keane, forming part of his bequest to King George V and which are now displayed in the Royal Gunroom at Sandringham.

For more information regarding John Manly Arbuthnot, 3rd Baron Keane (1816-1901) and his bequest of 1901, see David Baker, The Royal Gunroom at Sandringham, 1989, pp. 105-117, no. 30 for details of nos. 10110/1 above; and Dr. Nicholas A. Harlow, The Paris Exhibition of 1878. Part 3. The Keane Bequest, The Vintage Gun Journal, March 2022