The included Purdey factory letter confirms the serial number, bore, and double rifle configuration with the barrels listed as 31 inches. (The barrels do not appear to have been shortened and is by no means the first time factory records do not match the physical description of an unaltered firearm). The rifle was completed in July 1854 for Lord Lovat, a wealthy Scottish land owner, at a cost of 84 pounds. It has a blade front sight and five leaf rear sight on a niter blue finished base. (Note of interest: A succeeding Lord Lovat of the 20th century played a very active role in the WWII D-Day landings. During WWII he formed the Lovat Scouts, which was later the basis for the Commandos and SAS.) The Damascus barrels of this double rifle have a solid rib marked "J. PURDEY, 314 1/2 OXFORD STREET LONDON". The lock plates, fish sculpted hammer, barrel tang, and trigger guard feature a well executed scroll engraving with the locks marked "PURDEY". The scroll engraving extends to the barrel wedge escutcheons, patch box, buttplate, and grip safety. Once the hammers have been cocked, a grip safety on the underside of the wrist must be pressed in order for the hammers to release when the triggers are pulled. Note that the grip safety also incorporates a hammer safety. This type of safety system was more commonly found on shotguns, making it an usually feature for a double rifle. The nicely figured straight grip stock features checkering on the forearm and wrist, a cheekpiece and a checkered flat steel buttplate. Length of pull is 14 1/4 inches.

Fine as period refurbished. The barrels retain most of the brown Damascus with loss towards the muzzles. The remaining metal surfaces have a smooth gray patina with the lower tang and trigger guard retaining traces of blue finish in the protected areas and the lock plates retaining traces of case color in the protected areas. The reoiled, fine wood has some minor handling marks and period re-cut checkering.