1.) 12 Gauge. 28" barrel length. SN: 16039. 2.75" chamber length. Cylinder Chokes. Casehardened frame with reblued barrel and small parts set in a straight wrist English Walnut stock featuring bordered multipoint checkering to wrist and splinter forend. Double barrel side-by side hammerless ejector sidelock shotgun with assisted opening. Item features single bead front sight on a concave barrel rib, double triggers, tang safety, and removable firing pin bushings. Sideplates are engraved J. PURDEY & SONS., with the barrel rib address reading J. PURDEY & SONS, AUDLEY HOUSE SOUTH AUDLEY STREET, LONDON. MADE OF SIR JOSEPH WHITWORTH'S FLUID-PRESSED STEEL. Lower frame marked PURDEY'S/PATENT. Barrel rib and lever are numbered 1, indicating they were paired with another firearm. Barrel flats show London proof marks consistent with production between 1896 and 1904, with the gauge and choke marks reading 12/C within a diamond. Frame and sideplates feature fine English style scroll engraving enclosing floral bouquets, a trademark feature of Best quality English shotguns. The barrel fences features floral bouquets with borders flowing over the breeches of the barrels. SAFE marking is inlaid in gold, and the toe of the stock mounts a gold square name plate with the initials T.N. De.La. This fits proud of the wood, and was likely installed by a gunsmith. Butt is bare checkered wood. Comes with a wood travel case bound in green canvas with leather corners. A James Purdey & Sons label with load label is fixed to the interior of the lid. Comes without key. Barrels are not long enough to completely fill their compartment in the case, suggesting they may have been cut down, or the case is not an original match. 14.5" length of pull. 1.75" drop to comb. 2.5" drop to heel. 0 Cast. 6.472 lbs. {C&R}

2.) 12 Gauge. 28" barrel length. SN: 23165. 2.75" chamber length. Cylinder Chokes. Casehardened frame with blued barrels and small parts in straight wrist English walnut stock featuring bordered multipoint checkering to the wrist and splinter forend, and a naked butt with checkering to wood. Double barrel side by side hammerless sidelock ejector shotgun with assisted opening. Features a single front bead sight on a concave barrel rib, double triggers, tang safety, and removable firing pin bushings. Sideplates engraved J. PURDEY & SONS. with lower frame mark reading J. PURDEY & SONS/LONDON. Barrel is engraved 2, indicating it is number 2 of a pair, with the following address reading J. PURDEY & SONS, AUDLEY HOUSE SOUTH AUDLEY STREET. LONDON. MADE OF SIR JOSEPH WHITWORTH'S FLUID-PRESSED STEEL. Barrel flats and watertables exhibit post 1904 pattern firing proof marks. The serial number of lot number 1 is applied below the barrels of this shotgun, followed by its own serial numbers, indicating their assemblage into a pair. Classical James Purdey engraving matches item 1, as does the gunsmith installed gold name plate to the toe of the stock. Comes with a leather wrapped wood travel case featuring James Purdey & Sons paper labels to the lid and the loading label no longer legible. Lock plate broken, latch missing. Case lacks key, and comes with two-piece cleaning rod, and an oiler. 14.5" length of pull. 1.75" drop to comb. 2.5" drop to heel. 0 Cast. 6.54 lbs. {C&R}

A letter from one of item 1's early owners included with the shotguns explains modifications to this item by Griffin & Howe of New York. This shotgun was originally manufactured with 30 inch barrels and designed to use 2.5" shells. Griffin & Howe shortened the barrels and extended the chambers. Second letter from James Purdey & Sons explains the possibility of building new barrels for item 1 that are Nitro Proofed, and broaches the subject of producing a second barrel set or frame.