Wondering around London

[Brian Hornacek]

Out for a walk and found this establishment. Yes as some may wonder, I was wondering and wandering. Easily done around this lovely city.

[Donald F. Mills]

I bet they have a lot of great signature cocktail names.

[Clark McCombe]

Wife and I will be in London in May,
She’ll be shopping for fabric and I will have free rein at least to look into Purdy and Holland.
Would love to hear your thoughts

[Bill Murphy]

Time to do some serious shopping.

[Clark McCombe]

I’m not in a “buying mode”:)
Just window shopping.
My real wish list - a 28 ga Parker.

[John Dallas]

Early in the 2000's a British friend of mine with connections to H & H arranged 2 hour tour of the facility by the plant manager. Stunning

[Andrew Sacco]

Brian, were wandering or wondering? Or wondering while wandering?

[Bill Murphy]

James Purdey and Sons.

[Brian Hornacek]

I had a nice visit to H&H today, I had no idea that Beretta bought them a few years back. The fellow in the gun room was very pleasant, similar to past visits. The record for my H&H 12 bore and the original letter Teddy Roosevelt sent to order his famous safari .450 double rifle.

Purdey - I have spent a good amount of time there in the past, they are always proper but very pleasant in conversation. Nick was the manager the last time I stopped in. If I can find time tomorrow I may stop in.

[Garth Gustafson]

How cool is that! I’m surprised TR didn’t use a peep. His eyesight was never very good. And in 1905 he lost sight in one eye while boxing with his aide. TR was one tough cookie.

[edgarspencer]

I always found H&H to be friendly. Billy Billarmoria was a salesman there back in the'80s. I stopped in one day and they told me he had a heart attack, and was in the hospital. I went and visited him in the hospital and spent an hour. He went into depth, growing up in India, and working his way up to manager in the Bombay Holland store. He didn't get back to work for nearly a year, and when he was back, I stopped again. He said he hadn't sold a gun since coming back. Jokingly, I said "let's see if we can change that". I ended up buying a back action double rook rifle in .360 Rook. Billy retired and went back to India, and I got the most beautiful, hand made Christmas cards from him until he died in '07.
I think they moved out of the 33 Bruton St store, but when they were there, they had their private collection in the basement. I will never forget the .450 hammer gun with Jones under lever. It was a Perkes patent, that self cocked when you swung the lever over. I believe I offered many body parts if they would sell it to me.
For over 20 years, I spent anywhere between 12 and 20 weeks a year in England, for business. Growing up, as a child, my sisters and I spent 2 months every summer, until I was 16, in Scotland at my mother's family farm. I've only been back a few times since I retired.

[John Dallas]

The most amazing gun I saw in my visit was a 20 gauge SxSxS 3 barrreled gun. I expected the gun to be clumsy, but it was fine. They were having trouble the barrels to fire sequentially, but were confident they would get it.

The manager also pointed to a gun in a locked case (he didn't happend to have the key with him)which he alleged had $100,000 worth of engraving. Wish I had been able to see it.

My friend who arranged the tour had a very senior job in Ford's manufacturing. As he walked around, he kept mumbling that "Could eliminate him" or "Why do they need him". The manager responded "Jeff, people who are buying these guns don't care about a few extra dollars. They want to be able to say "I've got this and you don't."

[Brian Hornacek]

Nice stop at Purdey today and a look at my gun in the book.

[Garry L Gordon]

I went to Purdey’s years ago. Elaine said she’d buy me something. I came home with a cap. :banghead: I wonder if the record of my cap is still available?:rotf::rotf::rotf:

Brian, it looks like you’re having a great trip—enjoy.

[Tom Jay]

While in Birmingham UK last September we stopped at the Westley Richards showroom. Inside were beautiful wearable items and a storage vault of owner's guns. Just a few display shotguns and rifles were out for general viewing. Its a 4-year wait list to begin building a bespoke gun and another 2 years to completion. Basic 12 gauge shotguns start at US$90k. Then you add additional costs of wood choice, trigger config, engraving type etc. Your out the door price will be around US$120k.

[Bill Murphy]

Brian, my pigeon gun was also delivered in January of 1912. Coincidentally, one of our members got me a Purdey provenance sheet yesterday. My serial is 20,300, very close to yours. Do you have the pair or just one? How is your gun choked?