Manufactured in 1863. Single bead sight on a smooth concave rib marked "J. PURDEY , 314 1/2, OXFORD STREET, LONDON" with standard English proofs on the flats and water table. The locks, frame, hammers, break lever, trigger guard and forearm hardware are nicely engraved with English scroll designs. Each lock is marked "PURDEY". The matching serial number is marked on the lower tang, on the barrel flat and underside of the left barrel and on the forearm hardware. The water table is marked with two "crown/V" proofmarks and engraved "N 1". Writer is unable to get a chamber measurement (very long forcing cone), and the wall thickness is .039/.035. Length of pull is 14 1/4 inches, drop at the heel is 2 1/2 inches and drop at the comb is 1 7/8 inches. Mounted with a checkered walnut splinter forearm and straight grip stock with a smooth buttplate and silver initial oval inscribed with an intertwined "CH". Comes with a leather wrapped wooden takedown case with brass corner protectors, and leather straps and handle. There is a plaque affixed to the outside of the lid which is inscribed "BRIG. GEN./OLIVER L. PEACOCK/SOUTH CAROLINA GUARD". Writer researched General Peacock and met with negative results. The case is lined with orange felt and there is a Purdey label affixed to the inside of the lid. In the case is an oiler, round wooden container, a brass powder flask, a wooden handled brush and three screwdrivers, a two-piece wooden cleaning rod, a bore mop and brush, and cleaning patches. The makers have kindly confirmed that this gun, number 1 of a pair with serial number 6598, was sold on November 4 1863 to a Thomas Leigh of Luton Hoo, Luton, Bedfordshire. The guns are described in the records as being “… a pair of best finished breech-loading double guns 10-bore (6597 & 8) long guard lever…” with 32 inch barrels at a cost of £126. Leigh returned the pair to Purdeys on July 8 1867 where he was credited the sum of £50 against a pair of centre-fire guns. Unfortunately the records are unclear as to the fate of guns 6597 and 6598 although the Dimension Book suggests they were held in stock as pre-owned guns but with no note of the buyer or whether the conversion to centre-fire was carried out at this time. See L. Patrick Unsworth, The Early Purdeys, Appendix 3, p. 266.

Very fine as refinished. The barrels retain 60% brown finish and show 98% of the Damascus pattern. The trigger guard/lower tang retains 98% blue finish with some edge wear and some mild thinning. The remaining metal surfaces retain 98% original bright case colors. The wood is also very fine with crisp freshened checkering and some minor dings and pressure dents on the stock. The markings and engraving are crisp and clear. Mechanically excellent. The case is good with some edge wear, scuffs, scratches and discoloration on the exterior. The lining shows some material absent, some wear and staining. All of the accessories are very good.