101 years old J Purdey gun prise

[Chengy]

12C does have a relation with chamber length. 12C means the gun has a chamber length below and up to 2 3/4 inches. 12LC means the gun is chambered for 3 inches and above (Long Chamber). The 2 1/2 chambers were nitro proofed to 1 1/8 oz and 2 3/4 chambers to 1 1/4 oz. The Purdey gun in question is there for chambered for 2 1/2 in as per the nitro proof mark

[Vikram]

12C does have a relation with chamber length. 12C means the gun has a chamber length below and up to 2 3/4 inches. 12LC means the gun is chambered for 3 inches and above (Long Chamber). The 2 1/2 chambers were nitro proofed to 1 1/8 oz and 2 3/4 chambers to 1 1/4 oz. The Purdey gun in question is there for chambered for 2 1/2 in as per the nitro proof mark

Well said. That 12C needs to be understood along with the rest of the marks. On its own, it does not tell the specifics one is looking for. To complicate things, there was also a 2" cartridge!

[Shabbu9x9]

This is from the Birmingham Proof House for 1925, 1954 & 1989. 1904 through 1924 are same as 1925, except length of chamber is not marked. 2½" guns were marked 1 1/8oz & 2 3/4" guns were marked 1¼ oz. 3" or longer were marked with an LC under gauge in the diamond to indicate "Long Chamber".
Incidently the smaller the bore the higher the pressure walls of equal thickness will contain, or for the same pressure can have thinner walls. It is however, as mentioned, easier to load the 12ga to lower pressures than smaller bores, unless exceptionally light charges of shot are used. Many will load 1oz in the 12ga, but not many go down to 13/16oz in the 16ga which would be an equivelent load.

[Amin_owaisi]

Is this gun still available for sale

[dapja]

Please tell me market prise of J purdey s×s, 12 bore 29" barrel, 2 3/4 chamber gun is v good condition I think 75% and gun made in 1918
Thanks
Regards

Please give price of James Purdy

[shooter50]

Proof marks can be confusing especially for an old gun. Each Colonial power had its own system, British proofmarks were different from German, Belgian, Spanish or even Russian ones. Much also depended on the knowledge of the person who stamped the proof marks.
Agree with Vikram completely. 12C does not always mean a 2.75 inch chamber. Best to measure the chambers, a simple vernier gauge can do the job. It is an old Gun probably made between 1900 and 1925. What we know for sure is that it has been proofed for 1 1/8 oz of shot. My guess is 2 1/2 inch chambers.
BTW a lovely shotgun, would love to work on it and restore it to its pristine glory. !!

[airguns]

Many English guns in India were pre-WW1, 2 1/2 inch chambered. Post WW-1 BSA, Vickers. Manton, American Ithaca, American Pump Winchester, LC smith another American, Belgian autoloader etc. were 2 3/4. Very few Waterfowl guns, including a BSA model were 3" chambers. Post WW-2, very few Shotguns were imported, some Spanish makes etc. all were 2 3/4 at least.
No need to speculate, take a straight thin piece of wood, plastic etc., run it visually upto base of forcing cone, mark and measure it with a simple ruler. That's the length of chamber.
Leaving the chamber length aside, proofing in old guns is no assurance of safety. Each gun needs to be examined, for bore dimensions, as they are presently, rust under ribs, improper welding and filing(done by incompetent gunsmiths to tighten lose guns).
All discussions aside, such guns make good collector items these days, in western countries. In India with all the hardships of getting a licence, ban on hunting and S/S guns not used in target shooting, these guns don't even have sentimental value ( most who remember these guns are dead or in their 70's+ these days).
Even, before hunting for birds was banned, it was done with either Indian made single and double barrels or a few old cheaper grade English, Spanish, Belgian guns, German Geco, hammered Jeffries etc., don' t know of any hunters that had expensive English shotguns.

[dapja]

How to buy a James Purdy?

[dapja]

Is your James Purdey for sale now?