Lot 378: Engraved J. Purdey & Sons .22 Single Barrel Rook Rifle

OE - GOOD - some minor replacement parts; metal smoothly rusted or lightly pitted in places, cleaned; principal lettering, numerals and design on metal legible; lightly scratched, bruised or minor cracks repaired; in good working order.

PRF - PROFESSIONALLY REFINISHED OR RESTORED

The makers have kindly confirmed that this “E Quality” rook rifle was sold in 1908 and originally chambered for the .295 or .300 rook rifle cartridge and subsequently converted to .22 LR. It is of similar form to the famous Holland & Holland “The Ross” rifle, and like “The Ross” was made in Birmingham. With blued octagonal barrel signed “J. PURDEY & SONS, AUDLEY HOUSE, LONDON” on the top partially file cut matted flat and fitted with blued bead front sight and blued rear sight of one standing notch sight and one folding leaf sight each with platinum inlaid center line and graduated to 100 yards, and with automatic ejector. Casehardened rounded action with automatic safety with gold inlaid “SAFE” and blued toplever. A blued Parker-Hale folding aperture rear sight is fitted to the stock wrist behind the action. Furniture comprises a trigger guard and a pistol gripcap. The whole with classic English border and scroll engraving. Birmingham nitro proof marks. Well figured 13 3/4" walnut semi-pistol grip stock with grooved dark horn heel plate, and checkered grip and forearm, the latter with green horn cap.