Peter Chapman began his career as an apprentice under Chris Gadsby as a finisher for Purdey in 1952. After some 25 years with Purdey, Chapman formed a partnership and struck out on his own with the intention of building some of the finest guns in the world reminiscent of Britain's golden age of gunmaking. This fine pair is a testament to that end and shows off the incredible skill that he possessed in every facet of the guns. Chapman only built some 160 guns total making this pair a significant piece of total production and a true rarity. Both guns in the pair is built with blued steel chopperlump barrels featuring a single bead sight on the smooth flat solid rib which is marked "PETER CHAPMAN - LONDON" along with a gold inlaid "1" or "2" at the base set in among floral scroll, light engraving at the breech, 1983 dated London proofs on the flats, and 2 3/4 inch chambers with automatic ejectors. The barrels of each gun are fitted to a gorgeous casehardened Purdey type self-opening sidelock action which displays highly attractive floral scroll engraving surrounding "Peter Chapman" in fine gold Gothic lettering on either lockplate, a mix of bright and nitre blued action pins, and "Peter/Chapman/London" in gold Gothic lettering on the underside. The scroll engraving is continued on the toplever which shows a gold inlaid "1" or "2", the triggerguard, and both tangs, the bottom of which has the serial number in gold lettering. Each gun features bushed firing pins, nitre blue cocking indicators on either lockplate, a right hand rolled triggerguard over double triggers, and a tang mounted automatic safety with gold inlaid "SAFE" indicator. Each gun is mounted with a beautiful highly figured and multi-point checkered splinter forend with engraved fittings and a gold inlaid "1" or "2" on the Anson button release as well as a straight grip stock with teardrop carved drop points and a checkered bare butt. Included is a fine factory labelled takedown case with canvas cover that houses both guns, a set of turnscrews, two snap caps, oiler, and cleaning tools. Barrel and stock measurements (R/L): bore diameter nine inches from the breech both proofed at .615 inches and measured .616/.617 inches; choke constriction .009/.013 inches; minimum wall thickness .030/.028 inches; 1 7/16 inch drop at comb; 2 3/8 inch drop at heel; 14 3/8 inch length of pull; cast-off; weight 5 lbs. 10 oz.

Excellent, retaining 99% original blue, casehardened, and gold finishes with some minor spotting near the breech, slight plum hue to the blue on the barrels, and a few minor handling marks on the metal. The wood is very fine with some pressure marks near the butt on the left of the stock and the toe, two small cracks off the forend shoe, and overall sharp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The case is very fine with a few storage/transit marks.

As described in "A". Barrel and stock measurements (R/L): bore diameter nine inches from the breech both proofed at .615 inches and measured .618/.618 inches; choke constriction .010/.014 inches; minimum wall thickness .028/.026 inches; 1 7/16 inch drop at comb; 2 3/8 inch drop at heel; 14 3/8 inch length of pull; cast-off; weight 5 lbs. 10 oz.

Excellent, retaining 99% original blue,casehardened, and gold finishes with minor handling evidence and a tiny freckle of spotting on the right barrel near the breech. There is a small chip and some dings and dents at the heel; otherwise, the wood is very fine with a few marks and sharp checkering. Mechanically excellent. A truly rare chance to own an exceptional pair of English guns from a desirable and scarcely encountered maker!