Barrel length 74 cm (29"), stock length 38 cm (15"), overall length 117 cm (46"), choke cyl & 1/2 & (cyl & M), weight 3.1 kg, made 1911, British proof, condition 4.
Demibloc barrels, concave rib marked "J. Purdey & Sons, Audley House, South Audley Street, London, Made of Sir Joseph Withworth's Fluid Pressed Steel", ejectors, bascule with fully preserved hardening colors, fine arabesque and rose bouquet engraving, fences cut with arabesques, self-opening bar-action sidelocks type Beesley, cocking indicators, sear, disc-set strikers, gas release valves, automatic sliding tang safety, gold inlaid with "Safe", double trigger, well grained walnut stock, drop points, straight grip, carved butt end, forend with Anson push-rod, blank silver stock monogram plate, numbered "2" on all parts as part of a former pair, in a leather covered oak case with brass corners, trade label, gun configuration, Purdey cleaning rod with various attachments, Purdey oil bottle, Purdey snap caps and firing pin replacement tool.
Breech slightly wobbly with forend removed, forend damaged by wood screw in one place, barrels bright and good bluing, a very interesting set overall that can be restored to condition 2-3 with little effort.
James Purdey worked for Joseph Manton, the London arms manufacturer par excellence of his time, known for his penchant for perfection. With his accumulated experience and knowledge, he eventually went into business for himself and finally opened his first shop in Princes Street in 1814. As early as 1826 he moved to Oxford Street and took over the property of Joseph Manton who had previously gone bankrupt after unsuccessful orders. The premise of manufacturing to the highest quality was part of James Purdey's work from the beginning, and so from 1838 onwards they were pleased to have won Queen Victoria as a customer. In 1883, after successful growth, the company moved to Audley House, where it is still located today. Purdey was already in the 19th century qualitatively at the top of the gun manufacturers. The company stands for the highest manufacturing quality and innovations steeped in history. In addition to the Purdey nose and the double Purdey underlug, as a locking device for break-barrel guns, the brand stands for the symbol of a self-opening shotgun. The mechanism, originally patented by Frederick Beesley, was purchased by Purdey, adapted and perfected both technically and commercially. The transition from breech-loaders with external to internal cocks (now hammers) became a complete success for Purdey. The company survived the economic crisis and the two world wars and was managed by the family through several generations of descendants. The majority ownership itself passed from the Purdey family to Hugh & Victor Seely in 1946, who in turn passed to Richard Beaumont. In 1948 they took the opportunity to buy Woodward & Sons. In times of an increasingly important American market, the company gained technology and know-how in a segment that still had potential within the company - over/under shotguns. Engraving, which had previously been less typical, also became more and more recognized within the company, and the importance of custom-made luxury firearms was completely rounded off. The company's fortunes remained linked to the Purdey and Beaumont families, even beyond a 1994 sale to the Richemont Group (Compagnie Financière Richemont SA). In recent years, the manufacture of sporting shotguns (Purdey Sporter) has also become increasingly important.
Category: Shotguns
