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*TRULY EXCEPTIONAL SIMON COGGAN ENGRAVED PURDEY OVER-UNDER SIDELOCK EJECTOR HEAVY GAME GUN WITH CASE

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:22,500.00 USD Estimated At:45,000.00 - 55,000.00 USD
*TRULY EXCEPTIONAL SIMON COGGAN ENGRAVED PURDEY OVER-UNDER SIDELOCK EJECTOR HEAVY GAME GUN WITH CASE
SN 29467. Cal. 12 ga.3" Chambers. 28" Nicely struck demi-bloc bbls with full length, solid, file cut rib, are engraved "J. Purdey & Sons. Audley House, South Audley Street, London, England" on left side of top bbl. Bbl flats are stamped with 1995 London nitro proofs for 3" chambers at 1200 BAR. Bbl makers initials SW (Scott Wood) are on bottom of bottom bbl, which are also stamped with tube numbers "77019" and "20". Finely filed, rounded bar, Woodward type, low profile OU action features automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold), bolstered sides, gold line tumbler end cocking indicators, gold-plated internals, and gold-plated Purdey late type single trigger. Action and lockplates are engraved with exceptionally well cut, large, shaded, scrolled acanthus framing exceptional Bulino scenes of game birds; quattro of mallards are taking wing from cattail swamp with wooded background on left lockplate; pair of pheasant flushing from cover into woods on right; trio of chukar partridge being shot at by hunter in background on bottom of action. "J. Purdey & Sons." is gold inlaid on scroll flanked device at bottom of each lockplate, and appears again on bottom of action over "London. England." at front and back of forend iron recess. This exquisite work is by one of the finest engravers of our day, Simon Coggan, who apprenticed to his famous father, Phil, in 1993, and started full time with his own work in 1994, just a year before this gun was proofed. The Bulino scenes are exceptionally fine with wonderful detail, including dramatic cloudy skies. This particular gun is illustrated in an unfinished state on p. 234 of BRITISH GUN ENGRAVING by Douglas Tate. Scroll engraved single beaded trigger guard has SN engraved at grip, and extends to classic steel grip cap, which is also scroll engraved, and inlaid with initials "J. J. G". Finely marbled and lightly figured European walnut pistol grip buttstock measures 14-3/4" over 5/8" brown leather covered pad, and features classic Purdey style drop points and point pattern checkering. The initials "JJG" are individually inlet into toe line. Matching one piece ejector forend has Anson release. Bore diameter: top -.726, bottom -.726. Bore restrictions: top -.020 (mod), bottom -.019 (mod) (Case charge card for this gun reads "Boring of bbls: right lead good 1/2 steel full. Left: good 1/2 steel full). Wall thickness: top-.034, bottom -.034. Drop at heel: 2-1/8", drop at comb: 1-9/16". Weight: 7 lbs. 15 oz. LOP: 14-3/4". Original makers leather case with stitched leather corners has brown canvas leather trimmed outer cover. Interior is lined in burgundy cloth and has gold embossed black leather Purdey label along with charge card for this gun, on lid. Accessories include two piece brass and rosewood cleaning rod with mop, jag, and brush, 12 ga broken case extractor, Purdey marked square oil bottle and snap caps, striker bottle with spare strikers, and two rosewood handled turnscrews, along with the key. CONDITION: Excellent, near new, showing evidence of only very light compassionate use, with only a few of the lightest, almost unnoticeable, marks on wood and metal, mostly on right side of butt. Top grain of leather covering of pad shows some lifting. Bores are excellent, mechanically crisp, with perfectly timed ejectors. Case leather is excellent, with some very slight marks. Outer cover is also excellent, leather trim showing some abrasion, and canvas some fading. Straps and handle are fine. Interior cloth is very fine, showing slight soiling and marks from contact with action and bbls. Labels are excellent. Charge card has a slight smudge. Accessories are excellent. Simply a wonderful gun. 4-47168 MGM35