A fine 12-bore self-opening sidelock ejector gun by J. Purdey and Sons, owned by the same family since its completion in 1928, has been auctioned by Bonhams.

The gun sold for £28,800 against a pre-sale estimate of £10,000-15,000 as part of Bonhams Sporting Guns, Rifles and Vintage Arms sale.

A second J. Purdey and Sons gun - a 12-bore self-opening sidelock ejector pigeon gun - went for £21,600, beating its estimate of £15,000 - 20,000.

Also beating its estimate was a fine 12-bore assisted-opening sidelock ejector gun by Boss & Co.

Fierce bidding eventually saw it sell for £13,200 - an 88% increase on the lower estimate.

Overall the sale fetched £332,736 with a sold by lot rate of 83.13%.

Purdey are designers and builders of the finest English style shotguns and sporting firearms.

The company was founded in 1814, a year before the battle of Waterloo.

They have a celebrity clientele - In 1838 Queen Victoria is reported to have purchased a pair of pistols from the company.

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