Purdey London

[Wilmurt]

Was in London earlier this week and popped into Purdey’s on S Audley Street. Haven’t been there for 20 or so years and a lot of things have changed. Primarily the prices. Least expensive gun is an O/U for £38,000 (had none on display) Least expensive gun on display was £60,000 (used) and most expensive £95,000 (new). Sales of O/U vs SxS is 50/50. Only sell fiber wad shells. Box of 25 Bismouth cost £35. Cost of a SxS restock £20,000. New barrel for existing gun £30,000. For those that are interested, £1=$1.31. I did leave with a new Purdey catalog (free) and a pheasant design scarf for my wife’s birthday £315. I hope she likes it.

[OH Osthaus]

Originally Posted by Tom Jay

Cost of a SxS restock £20,000. .

SHHHH

don't tell Brian and Chris that

[Wilmurt]

Yep. £20,000

[Dean Romig]

Richard Purdey used to send his worst case broken stocks - even with missing pieces - to David Trevallion for a strong invisible repair.





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[Kirk Potter]

Wow, I've never even seen a "best" gun in person let alone handle one.. But always wondered if after handling one those prices would somehow seem justifiable to me. Makes the custom shotguns from CSMC look like bargains.

[Ed Blake]

Originally Posted by Kirk Potter

Wow, I've never even seen a "best" gun in person let alone handle one.. But always wondered if after handling one those prices would somehow seem justifiable to me. Makes the custom shotguns from CSMC look like bargains.

Exactly. They’re all CNC-made anyway. Buy the gun not the name.

[Kensal Rise]

Originally Posted by Ed Blake

Exactly. They’re all CNC-made anyway. Buy the gun not the name.

Not quite. I've been to the Purdey shop in Hammersmith, and can tell you without reservation that CSMC is not even in the same galaxy as Purdey when it comes to finish craftsmanship. Yes, the major bits are cut with CNC, etc. But it's the finish and style that makes a Purdey. And that name on a gun is nonpareil.

I also own a few Purdeys. Which I will stack up against anything from CSMC. Any day.

And just so you don't get mislead, I know the folks at CSMC and they have been very nice to me. This is NOT a knock against them.

[C.O.B.]

Originally Posted by Kirk Potter

Wow, I've never even seen a "best" gun in person let alone handle one.. But always wondered if after handling one those prices would somehow seem justifiable to me. Makes the custom shotguns from CSMC look like bargains.

I have guns from H&H, Purdey and CSM. There is no comparison between the English "best" gun and the Fox (and mine is a FE 410) IMHO the fit and finish on the English guns is much better and no machine can duplicate the hand finishing of an English best gun. I'm no 12ga person and much prefer the small bores for my upland hunting but last year I bought a Purdey light game gun, a 6lb 12 with 28 inch barrels choked .004 & .008 and with RST 2 inch 3/4 oz loads it's wonderful on grouse, woodcock and quail.
I have a Parker upgrade AAHE 28ga with a second set of barrels (28 inches M/F) from James Purdey.

[Wild Skies]

Originally Posted by Tom Jay

Cost of a SxS restock £20,000.

I have a Parker DH that I'd like to have restocked. Do you think they'd want a little more if I were to spec a SSBP?

[edgarspencer]

I always found the guys on Bruton Street to be more affable. Not quite so full of themselves. I made about 120 trips to UK between '85 and '99 and made the rounds pretty regularly. Billy Billimoria, at Holland was one of the nicest guys you would ever want to meet, and was Old School Indian. When he was back from a heart attack, he told me he was waiting to sell a gun before he retired. He had a little double rook rifle, I bought it, and he was gone before I got back there a month later. To this day, I get a beautiful handmade Christmas card from him.