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J. PURDEY & SONS
A RARE PAIR OF 12-BORE TOP LEVER HAMMER EJECTOR GUNS, NOS. 15029/30, BUILT IN 1895 FOR SIR HARRY STONOR
30-inch Whitworth steel chopper-lump barrels with 2 1/2-inch chambers, about full choke borings, the frames, rebounding back locks, hammers and numbered top levers with fine scroll engraving, clipped fences, 13 3/4-inch highly figured stocks, 6lb. 5oz. and 6lb. 2oz., respectively, nitro re-proof, brassbound oak and leather case
The maker confirms that the guns were built in 1895 for The Hon Sir Harry Stonor.
Sir Harry Stonor was born in 1859 and was a member of the exclusive Sandringham set. He shot extensively the finest game shots of his day, including King Edward VII, King George V, Lord Ripon and Lord Walsingham. He was the grandson of the 3rd Lord Camoys and spent much of his youth at Sandringham, where he developed his capacity for shooting. He became Gentleman Usher to Queen Victoria in 1883, a position he continued to hold under King Edward VII and King George V. He was Deputy Master of the King's Household from 1918 until his retirement. He placed 4th in the 1903 Bailey's magazine list of the Twelve Best Shots in Great Britain, a list headed by the King and Lords Ripon and Walsingham.
He wrote on the 25th January 1939 to Athol Purdey, thanking him for the cheque for his "old guns" and how sorry he was to part with them. He died aged 79 at St James' Palace on 5th May 1939.
Hammer ejector shotguns are rare as ejector mechanisms were not available until after the hammer gun had effectively become obsolete. It was essentially only the very finest shots of the day who continued to use hammer guns from Purdey in to the 20th century and fully appreciated the advantages that an ejector mechanism offered to allow for more rapid reloading.
S2
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Sold for £20000
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| Fine Modern and Vintage Sporting Guns |
| Sotheby's, New Bond Street, London |
| 16 April 2014 |
| Commission is 25% ex. VAT. Artist's Resale Right may apply |
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