^Lot 2119 I. PURDEY NO. 1334 A .50 CALIBER SINGLE PERCUSSION

RIFLE WITH ORIGINAL CASE, LEATHER OUTER COVER, SOME ACCESSORIES & FACTORY LETTER. Cal. .50 (multi-groove deep rifling). S# 1334 (1827). This handy lightweight rifle has 27" tapered swamped octagon laminated steel barrel with under rib fitted with one standing, two nested folding leaf rear and silver bead front sights. Top of barrel is engraved "I. PURDEY No 314 1/2 OXFORD STREET, LONDON.". Bottom of barrel is stamped with S#, London proofs, and "JP". Breech plug with S# on rear of hook is fitted with vented platinum blow out and has two platinum lines at front and back. Ebony ramrod with horn tip and brass tail is stamped with this rifle's S# and held with two plain pipes with sling eye on front. Breech iron is engraved with shaded scroll having shell motif on rib extension. Front spring lock with flat faced serpentine hammer and back sliding safety is engraved with sparse open scroll; "PURDEY" is at center. Trigger plate with set trigger has pineapple finial engraved with classic shell. Blued trigger guard with large scroll on bow has S# at grip which extends to form pistol grip. Half stock with horn tip of nicely fiddle figured and well marbled European walnut measures 14-1/4" over well done (probably factory) 3/8" extension. It appears rifle was returned to Purdey's to be updated for a new owner or inheritor, and has spring loaded patchbox fitted which is engraved with finely detailed scene of two hounds coursing a wild boar on cover (Purdey's did not fit patchboxes to new rifles until around 1833; six years after this rifle was made.). Stock features early style small swept double shadow line right hand cheekpiece and point pattern checkering at grip. Stock attaches to barrel with captive sidebolt through oval silver escutcheons. MEASUREMENTS: STOCK: LOP: 14-1/4". WEIGHT: 5 lb. 5 oz. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: rifle is housed its original mahogany case with circular "D" ring folding handle and dual hook closure. Case is lined in green cloth and has very rare blue printed Purdey 315 Oxford Street label in lid. Bottom of case has this rifles S# inscribed on dot under lift-out mahogany container. Case contains: original ebony patch bottle filled with patches. A leather covered small unmarked flask with brass top German silver seams (unmarked for charges), ebony handled nipple wrench with pricker, ebony and brass bullet starter, and a second ebony rammer marked "450" are all in covered compartment; cover with bone knob. Another open compartment containS ebony and brass loading hammer, and an unmarked steel nutcracker type bullet mould casing a .65 ball. Case is accompanied by leather outer cover lined with pillow ticking, that fits case well. Purdey Factory Letter indicating rifle was completed in 1827 for J. Fraser and sold for 36.5 pounds. (Ledger listing copied on back.) CONDITION: very fine as probably refinished by Purdey's some years after original making when returned for alterations. Barrel retaining nearly all of a very fine re-brown with excellent definition to pattern. Other metal parts show light cleaning to mostly silver gray. Case hardening color visible where protected. Trigger guard retains about 30% of a correct charcoal blue. Stock retains most of a factory type refinish with a good scattering of minor scratches, knocks and dings. Checkering is moderately worn. Bore is very fine; sharp and shiny with a few minor pits toward muzzle. Lock is crisp; safety and set trigger work. Exterior of case is fine with some scratches and marks in its original oil finish. Key escutcheon is missing. Interior cloth is fine with splotches of bleaching and some compressions. Label is fine to very fine; lightly foxed with prominent mark from contact with wad bottle and a rub through at center from contact with hammer screw. Lift out box is too small for compartment. Other accessories are good to fine. Outer cover shows considerable tape marks, rubs, scratches, etc. Closing tabs are good; one buckle mount detached. Handle is good; interior lining is tattered. What a wonderful small rifle for use during primitive weapon hunting season! PROVENANCE: Malcolm G. MacGregor Collection. (01-28995/MGM). ANTIQUE. $7,500-12,500.