Visit to Purdey's of London with Pictures

[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.

[BRDHNTR]

Hi Frank, I did not think to ask them what they called the pattern. If it were me, I'd call it 'cat's eyes' pattern. reminded me of some marbles I had years ago...

[Big D]

The Purdey Damascus gun is on the cover of this month's "Field" magazine from Britain. The issue highlights "The most exclusive game guns". Nothing less than about $160,000.
I assume the tubes for the Purdey must be old stock from way back in the storeroom?

[Brad Boyer]

This is AWESOME!! Is Purdey making Damascus again?? Am I ignorant (probably) or has this been going on for some time?? Brad

[Mills]

There are several articles about this gun in some of the magazines I subscribe to.

[BRDHNTR]

The tubes for this Damascus sxs were made and not out of old stock according to the Purdey Manager I had the pleasure to talk with. They've been making Damascus O/U's for some time but this was the first Damascus sxs they've made in many, many years and they were quite proud of the result! It was sold within one week.

Enclosed is a pic of some very old Parker single barrels for trap guns made years ago under a Meriden contract with a French firm. Took this pic while in Paris.

Can anyone guess the gauge? :

These barrels were actually captured by Napoleon and brought back from Russia

[Autumn Daze]

I would guess 12 pounders.

[Researcher]

I went there in, as I recall, September 1986, and likewise was treated as nice as could be. Richard Beaumont himself showed me a little 28-gauge they could finish up to my dimensions for 28,000 pounds. In looking at the price tag on a 28-gauge Purdey at The Vintage Cup last fall, it would have been a good investment!!

My friend in London at that time is of Indian descent and just happened to be of the same sect(?) as the gentleman managing the used gun room at H & H, so I got free rein there as well.