Visit to Purdey's of London with Pictures

[BRDHNTR]

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.

[BRDHNTR]

More pics

[BRDHNTR]

More pics

[BRDHNTR]

a few more: bigbye:

[B. 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.

[BRDHNTR]

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]

Very cool! I want to go there now

[Kensal Rise]

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

[StubTwist]

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.