London on My Mind

[Joe Graziano]

Two guns I am considering. I’ve never purchased an English shotgun and am thinking of taking the plunge, albeit at a modest price level. Obviously, these are for sale and all are free to purchase them. But, does anyone see any big red flags? I shoot all guns I purchase and these would primarily be used for upland hunting. The hammerless I think would also make a fun skeet and clays gun.

Much thanks for your input!


https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/shotguns/holland-holland-shotguns/holland-and-holland.cfm?gun_id=10103394

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/shotguns/purdey-shotguns/purdey-antique-hammer-double-barrel-12-gauge-shotgun.cfm?gun_id=100987024

[Dean Romig]

Well by the time I clicked on it, somebody had already snapped up the hammerless - I hope it was you Joe.

The hammergun doesn’t tweak my interest at all.





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[Timothy Salgado]

Joe the hammerless is no longer posted on Guns International.
I don't see any proof marks on the barrel flats of the Hammer Gun. The way English guns are routinely serviced and refinished, that raises a red flag to me. I've been looking to add another British gun to my collection and have been looking for the "right one" for a few years now, I've noticed a lot of worn out guns on the market. I've been trying to take my time and focus my search on the gun dealers that specialize in British guns, there's quite a few out there- Hill and Rod, Woodcock Hill, Gun Vault on Fox Hill to name a few. Good Luck.
Tim

[Joe Graziano]

Sadly Dean, it was not. It was a great deal and no doubt the new owner will enjoy. I do love hammer guns and am interested. The proof marks appear to be on the tubes. I don't know if that was common or not in 1859.

[Mills Morrison]

For $1770 bucks or so, you could say you owned a Purdey. Interest pretty well stops there, though

[John Campbell]

Mr. Graziano:
This hammer gun is certainly worth $1775. You simply can't get a "fixer upper" Purdey for much less. It CAN be put right by a good 'smith. The Dallas Purdey history book puts its date at 1859. The barrels are original. The stock seems okay. Although some bodger worked on the chequer. Assume the barrel walls are thick enough and bores are good. The hammer can be made to match.

After all, you can't buy much of a Parker for that money. But here you have a Purdey!

I'd buy it and send it off to Bachelder for refurb. Then enjoy it for hunting or clays!

[Joe Graziano]

Kensal, I believe I may do exactly that! Much thanks for the information.

Joe

[Joe Graziano]

I have purchased the Purdey.

[John Campbell]

Congratulations!

You now own the gun of Royalty!

PLEASE send it to professional hands...

[Joe Graziano]

Thank you, John. I certainly wasn’t expecting to purchase a PURDEY today:) I sure will on the professional hands. This will likely be a multi-year investment project I can pass on to my son.

[Dean Romig]

Please correct me if I am wrong but I thought Purdey guns were marked “J. Purdey & Sons” just as ‘real’ Parker’s were marked “Parker Bros.”
There were several Belgian makers of cheap guns that would profit from the good name of the Parker gun by marking “Parker”, “T Parker”, “Barker”, etc. knowing full well that they would suffer severely if they infringed on the trademark.

I wonder if this is such a “Purdey”?





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[Joe Graziano]

I compared it to another 1859 Purdey and it is correctly marked, simply “Purdey”.

[Dean Romig]

My error... apologies.






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[Joe Graziano]

I’ve never regretted a fair warning. What a fantastic group of collectors on this site. I learn more every day. And as a relatively new member, I look forward to meeting others in Kennedyville in September.

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

I believe that European guns did not have proof marks before 1891, could be wrong but believe this to be true, Gary

[John Campbell]

I believe that European guns did not have proof marks before 1891, could be wrong but believe this to be true, Gary

Sorry. You're wrong.

[Bruce Day]

Is a Purdey as good as a Parker ? Parkers are pretty nice and stand up to a lot of use.

[Bruce Day]

Are these Purdey shot guns as good as a Parker?

[John Campbell]

Are these Purdey shot guns as good as a Parker?

In a similar sense, one might ask:

Is a Bond Street suit as good as one from Men's Warehouse?

Is an Aston Martin as good as a Ford F-150?

Is Shakespeare as good as James Petterson?


Essentially, the comparisons have no basis to begin with. A Purdey and a Parker are both shotguns. End of similarities.

[Bruce Day]

See ! I knew you would know the fine points!

We don’t have Aston Martin cars out here, maybe that’s why I bought a new Ford F-150 a couple years ago, that and it handles mud and snow well , and I can load my bird dogs in it.

There is no Bond Street in town but maybe I can mail order one of their suits.

Our local library carries Shakespeare books.

We are pretty fancy out here in fly over country.

And we have lots of wild birds.

[Joe Graziano]

There is no point in setting up silly and false comparisons. I’m a member of PGCA because I love Parker shotguns. They speak to me as an American. At one point in life, a Parker shotgun was out of reach. I recently used my Krieghoff to win class B singles at the VA state trap shoot. You can bet I love that exceptionally well made gun. And now, I absolutely love my Parker hammer lifter and VH, as well as my LC Smith. Though this will be my first Purdey, and hopefully not my last, I expect that I will be thrilled with it as well. These things are not exclusive.

[Joe Graziano]

Anyway, this is my thread and I have made the purchase so I will bring it to a close. Thank you for your input, particularly Kensale for his good counsel. I will post some pics when the gun arrives.

Until then, in the immortal words of Sir Harry Flashman, “I've been a Danish prince, a Texas slave-dealer, an Arab sheik, a Cheyenne Dog Soldier, and a Yankee navy lieutenant in my time, among other things, and none of 'em was as hard to sustain as my lifetime's impersonation of a British officer and gentleman.”