PURDEY QUESTION
 

A friend of mine has interest in purchase of a very expensive Purdey 20 GA side by side. Problem is it has a LOP to a Factory Checkered Butt that is too short for him.
If he were to have a Leather Covered Pad installed to increase the LOP, how would this effect the RESALE VALUE of the gun.
Opinions please!
Bob Jurewicz

Depends on the buyer in my opinion. Personally I avoid pads as much as possible on small bore guns. I do own some guns with pads but they aren't appealing to me at all on a 20 or 28. Some people favor them I have been told.

Although not the most attractive of alternatives, he could use a removable ("slip-on") Galco-type pad. This would allow a suitable LOP increase for shooting without molesting the original factory butt treatment, which I think would significantly affect the value of the gun at resale.

On a Purdey, I would prefer a professionally installed horn buttplate of the desired thickness, checkered or grooved on the face.

I agree with Kevin, unless the buyer has entirely too much money, in which case I want to volunteer for adoption

A leather covered pad would not be out of place at all on a Purdey.





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A leather covered pad of good quality would be proper if the original stock hadn't been cut too short. How short is it, Bob.

Factory original LOP 14"
Bob Jurewicz

Then I would heed Kevin's advice and put a temporary slip on pad on, just for shooting. I thought your friend had a real cut off short stock.

Another way to maintain the gun's value is to have Purdey do the work to refit. But that might be a bit more costly than a slip-on pad...

Check out this site: https://vicknairgunsmithing.blogspot...lland.html?m=1

David,
Very helpful.
Is he still active in business?
Bob Jurewicz

What I like about a slip on pad is as a bonus it protects the butt and that part of the wood from scratches, dings, and wear.

A slip on pad as Kevin has suggested is better than nothing but keep in mind that whatever you do may affect the balance. I had Dewey Vicknair do a leather covered pad on my MX 28 and as all of his work came out superb.

Purdey used to send some of their more severely damaged stocks to David Trevallion but since David has retired you might consider his protege Steve Dalzell in Maine.





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I personally would opt for the slip on pad if the gun is original. You didn't mention the age of the gun, but no matter who does the work, I suspect any add on pad is going to be noticeable as an alteration. This year I ordered a few pads to have around to use. Without going to check I don't remember the brand but I remember they were a very nice dark colored leather, appeared well made and were really inexpensive ($40 range). They fit very well, had an internal pad which was very effective, and had a velcro wrap around design that was not bulky. As mentioned they protect the major part of the stock and are easy on and off. Weight didn't seem noticeable on a really light Ithaca NID 20 I used as a test. With the value of a Purdey I would certainly try this first.

I would like to thank everyone who shared with opinion and information in this thread!
To update: no decision on purchase has yet been made. The gun being considered is definitely too short and use of a slip on pad would never satisfy this potential new owner. I'm asking the seller addition question about the gun so that all info is made available to consider.
Thank you again!
Bob Jurewicz

I bought a very nice 20g Purdey from Steve Barnett about 15 years ago. It had 15 1/2" LOP, and checkered butt. Turnbull took about 1 1/2 inches off and install a thin Silvers type pad. It look great and did not seem hurt the value when I sold it a few years ago.

You may also think about having Mark Larson do a stock extension. He removed an Old English pad and added 1 1/2" to an Arrieta for me last year.
Check it out

I have a beautifu Purdey buttstock but I haven’t looked at it recently so I don’t remember why it was removed from the gun. It has been beautifully spliced with about a 1.25” butt piece.





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Dewey McNair in Ephrata, PA has been the go to guy to install leather pads on English guns.

The Brits value originality in an old English gun far less than we do. A old gun which hasn’t been serviced over time would be seen as neglected. Adjusting a fine gun for modern LOP is generally not considered to harm a gun’s value. While they do prefer a checkered butt, a well-done leather covered pad on a Purdey is normal and acceptable. I wouldn’t send a Purdey to anyone but Dewey Vicknair.

Though I have never owned one, I think finely done leather covered pads are beautiful on a fine doublegun. I would never devalue a gun because it wasn't originally made with one, if it was done right.

I have a very nicely fitted leather covered pad on my DH 20 with 28” Damascus barrels. It is the Admiral Thomas Perry gun you’ve all seen.





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I don't know how hard it is to get Tony Galazan to do odd work, but my Galazan Inverness has about the nicest leather covered pad I have ever owned. The second best is one done by a stockmaker on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. It is a beautiful square cornered leather cover over a Silver pad with very nice leather covered plugs. Unfortunately, he does not do such work any more.