29 August 2009, 15:24
Sidney HiscoxPurdey .600 Big Five Theme
A heavy Purdey double rifle with bas-relief carving by the Brown brothers. the caliber is .600. Appropriately, the rifle is engraved with a theme of the Big Five.
The left lockplate. A Cape buffalo surprised by a hooded cobra, while the king of beasts looks on from the detonators. Also notice the crocodile.
The right lockplate with two rhinos and a leopard on the side-clipped detonator.
A lion is represented on the butt cap of this .600 Purdey.
An elephant with skin real enough to put egrets to flight!
A private joke between patron and craftsman appears in great detail at the foot of the elephant. A boo rat, so well executed that its eye is visible, represents the client who was born in the year of the rat and the engraver, whose nickname is "boomer."
Hope you enjoyed!
29 August 2009, 18:41
MJinesBeautiful engraving, but a bit much for my tastes.
29 August 2009, 19:08
Philip A.The crocodile eludes me...
In the trees?
29 August 2009, 23:58
tendramsHate to say it....but those buffalo look a bit cartoonish.

30 August 2009, 02:09
BaxterBI would be horrified if I spent the money on a 600 Purdy and the engraving looked like that...
I'd stick to rose and scroll or anthacus.