rose & Scroll | Dogs and Doubles

WW GREENER DH-44 32 GAUGE SxS SHOTUN: THIS IS A REALLY RARE PIECE IN WONDERFUL CONDITION .26″ BARRELS DOUBLE TRIGGER EJECTORS SPLINTER FOREARM ENGLISH GRIP CHECKERED BUTT MAKERS CASE NEAR NEW CONDITION 4LBS 6 OZ X 2 1/8″ X 1 1/2″ X 14 3/4″. Price: $27,500

C.S.M.C. A-10 American Shotgun Rose and Scroll 12 Gauge 28” Barrels New in Case: The A-10 American is a full sidelock hand detachable, very low profile over and under shotgun for those who demand the very best. Produced in New Britain, CT, it is built to the highest world standards. The Rose and Scroll Edition includes a 3x wood upgrade, deluxe rose and scroll engraving and case color hardening. This 12 gauge gun has 28 inch barrels, 3″ chambers, a single selective trigger and ejectors. The English style stock has a 14.5″ length of pull with a recoil pad. Five choke tubes, and adjustable stock weight, barrel weights and tools are included. Price: $8,000

DONCKIER LIEGE SIDE-BY-SIDE DOUBLE RIFLE 450 NITRO EXPRESS: 25.5 inch barrel fixed sights wood stock and rubber recoil pad. This gun is in excellent condition. Price: $4999.99

Belgian Browning 20ga RKLT Superposed OU: Built in 1953,this gun has the round knob,long tang stock.It has 261/2″ barrels choked improved cylinder (.012″) and modified (.026″).This gun retains a minimum of 95%of the original blue and 98% of the original wood finish.The bores are bright and free of dents,pits,or rust.The stock and forend are sound with no cracks or damage.The weight is 6-8.Stock dimensions are 141/8″ LOP,11/2″ at comb,and 23/8″ at heel.Cased in a good condition Tolex case.A great all around upland bird gun or clays gun.C&R eligible. Price: $3495

BERETTA 686 SILVER PIGEON 28 GAUGE OVER UNDER SHOTGUN IN BOX: 28″ MOBIL CHOKE BARRELS WITH FOUR CHOKES: FULL, MODIFIED, IMPROVED CYLINDER, SKEET & WRENCH, MINT BORES , 2 3/4″ CHAMBERS, 995 BLUE/COIN FINISH, A FEW LIGHT MARKS ON THE WOOD, TIGHT LOCK UP, TOP LEVER IN THE 5 O’CLOCK POSITION, IN THE ORIGINAL BOX WITH PAPERS. Price: $1,699

Lucas scroll on an early J. Purdey & Son, Double Barrel, Centerfire shotgun. Click for a closer look.

Engraving on top-quality doubles is unusual. While it’s one of the least functional features, it’s also one of the most important. Done right, engraving can make a gun (and a gunmaker); done wrong it can ruin both. London’s top firms realized this early only. To ensure that their best-quality guns featured equally impressive engraving, gunmakers paid their best engravers top wages.

James Lucas was one of these top engravers, and at the peak of his career he was earning one of the highest salaries in London gunmaking trade. He was worth it, too. From 1855 to 1915, Lucas was Purdey’s head engraver, and during that time worked with another Purdey engraver named J. Mace, Sr. to develop the fine, tight scroll work that went on to be come the “rose & scroll” pattern that defined Purdey’s doubles.

The shotgun you see here is one of James Purdey & Sons first breechloading centerfire shotguns. Made in 1867, You can see how the engraver (proably Mr Lucas himself) was working out the tight, densely-packed scrollwork that would become Purdey’s famous house style.

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A master’s work: Lucas scroll on an early Purdey shotgun…