Visit to Purdey's of London with Pictures

[allen newell]

Last Friday while in London, I took the opportunity (of a lifetime!) to pay a visit to Purdey's. I will include pictures taken in this thread but first must say that I have never been treated so well, so politely and in the most accommodating manner by any retailer as I was while visiting Purdey's and their staff. I walked in promptly at 9:30 am when they opened. I was greeted warmly by a gentleman just inside the door and a second colleague a few feet behind him. I introduced myself and told them that my visit was the culmination of a lifetime of wanting to just stand inside their shop and take in, absorb so much of the legacy they have created within the gun maker business. I asked them if every American coming through their door expressed similar sentiments. They said 'just about all'. Would they mind if I took some pictures of the shop and browsed around. They said they would be delighted. After I had taken a number of pics, I was asked if I'd like to see the 'Long Room'. Absolutely I replied and in a few short steps I found myself looking at multiple generations of Purdey's on the walls, their memorabilia and that of the rich and famous. Just incredible. After leaving the Long Room, I spied a very nice Damascus Purdey side by side on a table. New gun they told me and although they've been making Damascus O/U's, they told me this side by side was their first produced Damascus in close to 100 years. I've since learned this very special and unique doublegun (20 ga.) is featured in an article of 'Shooting Sports'. I have not seen the article so my pics of this gun may not do it justice as those presumably in the article but I will include them here anyway. The Floor Manager explained this gun was 2 years in the making and was just recently finished, sold for around $165K US$ to a US buyer. I could not handle this fine gun as it had been sold but was able to drool over it up close and personal. What follows are pics of the shop and tis particular gun in particular. Oh yes, I did spend some $$ while there, how could I not? It was truly a memorable experience and one I would recommend to any of my PGCA colleagues should they find themselves in London. (and don't forget Holland and Holland just a short distance away.

[allen newell]

More pics

[allen newell]

More pics

[allen newell]

a few more: bigbye:

[Brian Dudley]

Wow! Not just Damascus barrels. All Damascus! That one will surely blow up of you fire it.
Kidding aside, that is great. Thanks for sharing the photos. What an experience.

[allen newell]

Thanks Brian. I an tell you that al their guns in the cabinet were spectacular (as was their price!). All wood on Purdeys gunstocks is now Turkish walnut as the available supply of French walnut is basically exhausted according to their staff whom I spoke with. It was a real treat though to poke around the shop and absorb it all in.

[Mills Morrison]

Very cool! I want to go there now

[John Campbell]

Quite nice that they allowed you into The Long Room. I've been there. It's historic.

[Frank Cronin]

Very nice Allen. The damascus SxS is something else! Did they say what they call the pattern of the barrels?

Glad you had a nice trip.

[Kevin McCormack]

Allen, thanks for the great post on your visit. I've been to Scotland twice shooting and visited Dickson & MacNaughton both trips but never have been to London yet, I want to do Chris Batha's "Gun & Pub Crawl" that he wrote up in Shooting Sportsman a year or so ago. A visit to Holland & Holland is a must in honor of my 1891 Royal Grade.

[Rick Losey]

Wow! Not just Damascus barrels. All Damascus! That one will surely blow up of you fire it.
Kidding aside, that is great. Thanks for sharing the photos. What an experience.

they were, I believe, doing a SxS and over-under in that pattern

yes- thank for the pictures - as with John- been to Scotland and spent some time in Dickson & MacNaughton's Edinburgh showroom, nice place to visit. But a chance the see the long room would probably be the only thing that would get me to London.

[allen newell]

Hi Frank, I did not think to ask them what they called the pattern. If it were me, I'd call it 'cat's eyes' pattern. reminded me of some marbles I had years ago...

[John Dallas]

The Purdey Damascus gun is on the cover of this month's "Field" magazine from Britain. The issue highlights "The most exclusive game guns". Nothing less than about $160,000.
I assume the tubes for the Purdey must be old stock from way back in the storeroom?

[Brad Boyer]

This is AWESOME!! Is Purdey making Damascus again?? Am I ignorant (probably) or has this been going on for some time?? Brad

[Mills Morrison]

There are several articles about this gun in some of the magazines I subscribe to.

[allen newell]

The tubes for this Damascus sxs were made and not out of old stock according to the Purdey Manager I had the pleasure to talk with. They've been making Damascus O/U's for some time but this was the first Damascus sxs they've made in many, many years and they were quite proud of the result! It was sold within one week.

Enclosed is a pic of some very old Parker single barrels for trap guns made years ago under a Meriden contract with a French firm. Took this pic while in Paris. :rotf:

Can anyone guess the gauge? ::corn:

These barrels were actually captured by Napoleon and brought back from Russia

[Dave Suponski]

I would guess 12 pounders.

[Dave Noreen]

I went there in, as I recall, September 1986, and likewise was treated as nice as could be. Richard Beaumont himself showed me a little 28-gauge they could finish up to my dimensions for 28,000 pounds. In looking at the price tag on a 28-gauge Purdey at The Vintage Cup last fall, it would have been a good investment!!

My friend in London at that time is of Indian descent and just happened to be of the same sect(?) as the gentleman managing the used gun room at H & H, so I got free rein there as well.