A Cased .650 (16-Bore) Pin-Fire D.B. Sporting Rifle

A Cased .650 (16-Bore) Pin-Fire D.B. Sporting Rifle By J. Purdey, 314½ Oxford Street, London, No. 6689 For 1864 With browned damascus twist sighted barrels (some old surface patination) each rifled with six spiral grooves and signed in full along the rib in front of the folding leaf-sights from '50' to '150' yards, each leaf with central platinum line, long slender border engraved case-hardened tang decorated with foliate scrollwork and with a shell on the sighting flat, swept fences, case-hardened rounded action, rotary under-lever of Lefaucheux type with hollowed terminal chequered for the fingers, signed border engraved case-hardened serial numbered detented back-action locks, each stamped with lockmaker's initials 'IB' on the inside, the mechanisms retaining their case-hardened and burnished finish, and dolphin hammers all decorated en suite, the latter each with blued safety-catch, highly figured half-stock with cheek-piece and chequered grip, chequered detachable fore-end with plain under-lever flat and engraved steel mounts, steel mounts comprising chequered butt-plate engraved 'CHARGE' over '4 dms. No. 6 for Round Ball' and '3½ dms. do. for Cone Ball' on the heel retaining traces of original blueing, border engraved trigger-guard serial numbered in front of the chequered spur and decorated with foliate scrollwork between borders of repeated flowering foliage on the bow, silver escutcheon engraved with owner's initials, and retaining much of its original finish: in original oak case fitted and lined in burgundy baize (some moth damage) with accessories including steel bullet moulds for casting conical and spherical bullets respectively, reproduction sprue-cutter, and James Dixon & Sons 16-bore capper/decapper, the interior of the lid with maker's trade label (old damage) with handwritten loading instructions, the exterior with circular vacant brass escutcheon centred on a flush-fitting circular brass carrying handle, and with an associated outer leather travelling cover, London proof marks 69 cm. barrels Footnotes: Literature Unsworth, p. 176. Built for a Mr. J.D. Gordon (see preceding lot) as no. 2 of a pair of individually cased d.b. pin-fire rifles Dallas, p. 193 For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com