Purdey 12 Bore Ken Hunt Engraved

PaulB

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I was able to pick these Ken Hunt engraved 12 bore Purdeys up last year in England. They are splendid indeed.

Ken Hunt was widely regarded as one of the greatest gun engravers of the 20th century, brought an unparalleled level of artistry to 12-bore shotguns. His work, often seen on fine British guns by makers such as Purdey, Holland & Holland, Rigby, and Westley Richards, is celebrated for its fluid scrolls, lifelike game scenes, and meticulous attention to detail. Each engraving was executed entirely by hand, transforming a functional sporting arm into a true piece of art. Hunt’s ability to combine traditional scrollwork with dynamic, naturalistic vignettes of birds and hunting scenes set a benchmark in the world of bespoke firearms. Today, his engraved 12-bores are considered masterpieces, highly prized by collectors for their elegance, craftsmanship, and enduring beauty.

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Wow, the pheasant engravings are incredible. Truly my favorite bird and greatest hunt. Watching my Drathaar work is truly splendid and a true joy to watch.

I would love to hunt with a gun of that caliber and class, let alone over my own dog! If you want to let me borrow it this December please let me know I’ll make sure some amazing pictures and memories are made! You should bring the other one and enjoy some shooting! South Dakota pheasants (wild birds only) are a true experience.
 

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Congratulations for the last addition to your collection. Pure beaty. To own a couple like this is a rare privilege. Well done.
Thank you for sharing very nice pics!
 
Knowing that he engraved by hand. I look for slight variations in each pattern. To me it makes the artistry even more impressive to find a variation. Proving to me that perhaps there wasn’t even a template followed

Find the tiny variation from number 1 & 2
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Knowing that he engraved by hand. I look for slight variations in each pattern. To me it makes the artistry even more impressive to find a variation. Proving to me that perhaps there wasn’t even a template followed

Find the tiny variation from number 1 & 2
View attachment 710453
I totally agree, these variations add to the originality, But how talented he was to make them hard to find!
 
Lovely. Also like the human element in stuff like this.

I enjoy following Ken on Instagram as he posts a lot about his style, approach, and he has a great sense of humor as shown in some of his cartoons.
 
Knowing that he engraved by hand. I look for slight variations in each pattern. To me it makes the artistry even more impressive to find a variation. Proving to me that perhaps there wasn’t even a template followed

Find the tiny variation from number 1 & 2
View attachment 710453


Also look above the circled numbers on the top levers

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Hopefully you are able to display the firearms you have shown on AH. They are too nice to be locked away.
 
Oh my !!

That is what dreams are made of. What is on your search list now?
Well,
As you can probably tell I have a hard time saying no to pretty much anything made by Holland, Rigby, Jeffery, and Westley Richards. I’ve been on a bit of a spending spree this month, but I was able to get several really special guns. 4 guns in particular that were on my “bucket list” that I’ve been after for a long time fell in my lap this last month.
- John Rigby 1908 Rising Bite in 500 NE
- Jeffery 450/400 Sidelock (pinless) game scene engraved
- 1910 318 Westley Richards TD engraved with a pre war lion on the floorplate
- Jeffery 475 #2 full coverage scroll engraved

Clearly I need help , but I’m always searching!
 

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mfharoldson wrote on SkullKeeper's profile.
Hello! I saw your post from last year about a missing crate from your hunt in Moz. I am curious how that all turned out? We (my fiancé and I) also hunted in Moz in 2024 and the trophies are being shipped with Hunters Services Limitada. We have some concerns on whether we will get the trophies home or not. May I ask who you hunted with?
 
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