Lot 337S2
A very fine pair of Ken Hunt decorated 12-bore self-opening sidelock ejector guns by J. Purdey & Sons, no. 27397/8 In their brass-mounted oak and leather case with canvas cover
3 December 2020, 14:00 GMT
London, KnightsbridgeSold for £47,750 inc. premium
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A very fine pair of Ken Hunt decorated 12-bore self-opening sidelock ejector guns by J. Purdey & Sons, no. 27397/8
Toplevers, ribs and forends numbered '1' and '2' in gold, the left lockplates chiselled in low relief with differing wooded landscapes inhabited by chased gold-encrusted pheasants, one in flight, the right lockplates chiselled in low relief with differing lakeside scenes inhabited by chased gold-encrusted wild-fowl, the front of each lockplate with foliate-scrollwork issuing from the mouth of a grotesque, the underside of each action chiselled with a symmetrical design, inhabited respectively by chased gold-encrusted woodcock in flight, one viewed from above and the other from beneath, trigger-guards each chiselled with foliage en suite and inhabited respectively by a gold-encrusted pointer and gundog, each lockplate signed 'K.C. Hunt', cocking indicators, and highly-figured stocks, the chopper-lump barrels with game-ribs engraved J. Purdey & Sons. Audley House. South Audley Street. London. England.
Weights 6lb. 8½oz., 15¼in. stocks, 28in. barrels, both approx. I.C. & ⅜ chokes, 2½in. chambers, London nitro proof
In their brass-mounted oak and leather case with canvas cover
Weights 6lb. 8½oz., 15¼in. stocks, 28in. barrels, both approx. I.C. & ⅜ chokes, 2½in. chambers, London nitro proof
In their brass-mounted oak and leather case with canvas cover
Footnotes
The makers have kindly confirmed these guns were completed in 1968
Ken Hunt was born in 1935 and at the age of 15 became an engraving apprentice with Purdey's under the famous Harry Kell. In 1963 he went into business in his own right. He continued to work until his retirement in 2011, having completed a total of 2,666 decorated firearms. His 60 year career is testament to the widely held opinion that he is among the most highly respected contemporary gun engravers
For examples of Ken Hunt's exceptional work see Christopher Austyn, Gun Engraving, 1998, passim