The makers have kindly confirmed that this gun was completed in August 1911 for a G.L. Dicken as the No.1 gun of a trio of single-trigger hammerless ejector game guns with 30 inch Damascus barrels and weighing 6 lbs. 14 oz. The gun has subsequently been converted during its working life to double triggers. The browned Damascus barrels have a concave rib with a bead sight, signed “J. PURDEY & SONS. AUDLEY HOUSE. SOUTH AUDLEY STREET. LONDON.”, and engraved with a spray of scrollwork and numbered “1” towards the breech end. The casehardened action is signed “J. PURDEY & SONS/LONDON” on the underside and is numbered “1” at the breech. It has an automatic safety with gold inlaid “SAFE” on the upper tang. The sidelocks are signed “J. PURDEY & SONS”. It features a blued trigger plate, sidelever and trigger guard. There is fine bouquet and scroll engraving throughout. The well-figured straight hand stock has carved drop points. checkered butt, grip and forearm; blued Anson push button release on the forearm, and a blank silver oval initial escutcheon on the underside of the butt. It comes in an associated maker’s brass cornered fitted oak and leather case lined in red baize with a printed James Purdey & Sons trade label, charges label, and small instruction label for Hammerless Guns inside the lid. The exterior is initialed “T.F.B.” London nitro proof marks. Barrel and stock measurements (R/L): chambers proved at 1 1/8 oz (2 1/2 inches); bore diameter 9 inches from the breech proved at 12 (.729 inches) and measured .737/.737 inches; choke constriction .009/.019 inches; minimum wall thickness .023/.022; 1 1/2 inch drop at comb; 2 1/8 inch drop at heel; 14 1/4 inch length of pull; weight 6 lbs 14 oz. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection

Very good. The barrels retain nearly all of the rebrowned finish and have a clear rib signature. The action retains faded traces of original casehardened finish on the water table, and the exterior of the action and locks are bright with crisp engraving. The sidelever, trigger plate, and trigger guard each retain nearly all of the reblued finish and have some softening to engraving. The refinished wood is also very good and has a very pleasing figure pattern, crisp recut checkering, occasional minor storage and handling blemishes, and a small insert repair to the left side of the trigger guard tang. Mechanically very good. The case is fine and has a pleasing dark aged patina, replacement leather straps, good lining, and age staining on the labels.