James Purdey & Sons have been making the finest quality guns, rifles and accessories in London

since the year 1814, supplying many of the worlds most distinguished and discerning people with their shooting needs, not least the British Royal Family. Queen Victoria ordered her first Purdeys in 1838: a pair of pistols, as a royal gift to the Imam of Muscat. Her eldest son the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, granted his Royal Warrant to the founders son, James Purdey the Younger, in 1868, an honour subsequently accorded to the firm by each succeeding British Monarch, including Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and HRH The Prince of Wales. The design of sporting guns advanced rapidly in the sixty years between 1820 and 1880. Purdey was at the forefront of these technical innovations, just as it is today, through its development of advanced CNC machining techniques for gunmaking. What has remained unchanged throughout Purdeys history is the passion for perfection and precision, and the never ending search for improvement. It is these qualities which lie at the heart of the exceptional elegance, performance, and longevity built into all Purdey guns, and on which the firms world famous reputation is built and maintained.

PURDEY BESPOKE GUNS & RIFLES

Ordering a new gun or rifle, built to your requirements and measurements, is a very special experience, and a much prized part of Purdeys discreet and personal service. Clients tell us their individual requirements and our experienced gun room staff will advise on the best combination of features and the best type, and bore or calibre, of gun or rifle for your particular type of shooting. Purdey always recommend, if possible, a visit to the shooting grounds to shoot with the try gun or rifle. There your measurements are taken whilst shooting and wearing appropriate clothing. There is little difference between a gun-fitting, and a fitting for a suit. Just as the skilled tailor ensures a perfect fit and flatters the wearers shape, so Purdey craftsmen ensure that a gun built to individual measurements fits perfectly, and optimises the shooters skill.

PURDEY GUNMAKING IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Purdey has a continuing investment programme in re-equipping its West London factory with the latest generation of CNC machines. This investment has enabled more changes to be made in Purdey gunmaking than were possible in the previous hundred years. All Purdey gun parts are now manufactured in house. With tolerances measured in microns these precision made components significantly reduce the time formerly spent by skilled craftsmen on preparation of rough forgings, instead allowing them more time to focus their unrivalled hand and eye skills on perfecting shape, fit and finish, endowing each and every gun with its individuality and soul. The new technology ensures absolute accuracy and consistency of each and every part, improved jointing, and simpler maintenance during the life of a gun - even one built to last centuries.

JAMES WOODWARD & COMPANY

Woodward was, and is, a marque greatly respected by Purdey, both the Woodward over and under and the side by side, with its trademark arcaded fences, continue to be faithfully reproduced for Woodward devotees. These are numbered with sequential Woodward serial numbers and with Woodward style fine scroll engraving.

PURDEY SIDE BY SIDE GAME GUN

Purdey perfected its double barrelled shotgun in the 1880s with the advent of its sidelock hammerless ejector gun, where the hammers were incorporated into the then revolutionary self cocking lock mechanism. The Purdey sidelock also had the additional benefit of power assisted opening, designed by a Purdey gunmaker, Frederick Beesley. This system employs part of the residual power in the compressed mainsprings to operate lifters which help open the gun faster and reduce the time taken reloading. This may shave only a fraction of a second off reloading but on a busy drive this can make a significant difference to your rate of fire, especially when shooting double guns at grouse or partridge. The Purdey hammerless sidelock ejector gun with its unique assisted opening action remains to this day the classic light game gun, perfected over 130 years of continuous production, and still the most popular gun in the entire Purdey range.

Purdey offers dedicated action sizes on all its guns in square, round or ultra-round action shapes. This gives each gun perfect proportions and is extremely important to the overall look, balance and feel.

OUR SIDE BY SIDE GUNS ARE BUILT ON THE FAMOUS SELF-OPENING SYSTEM PATENTED BY FREDERICK BEESLEY IN 1880. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OUR HAMMER GUNS THIS SYSTEM HAS BEEN IN USE EVER SINCE.

WEIGHTS OF GUNS

Calibres

.410, 28, 20, 16, 12-bore on dedicated action sizes Chambers 2 & 3 (70 & 76mm) Barrels Chopper-lump construction 28, 29, 30 (71cm, 74cm, 76cm) Chokes Fixed or Teague choke tubes Rib Concave, flat top or Churchill type Action Traditional square bar Ultra round bar

Safety Triggers & Guards

Automatic or non-automatic Double or non selective single trigger Flat or beaded edge Stock Straight or pistol grip Chequered butt or leather covered recoil pad Heel & toe pieces Gold or silver oval Inlaid gold letters Engraving & Finish Traditional fine rose and scroll with colour-hardened or bright finish. Additional engraving options on request

12-bore

6 lb 6 oz (2.94 kg) - 6 lb 12 oz (3.06 kg) 16-bore 6 lb 2 oz (2.77 kg) - 6 lb 10 oz (3.00 kg) 20-bore 5 lb 15 oz (2.69 kg) - 6 lb 4 oz (2.83 kg) 28-bore 5 lb 2 oz (2.32 kg) - 5 lb 8 oz (2.49 kg) .410 4 lb 10 oz (2.09 kg) - 4 lb 12 oz (2.15 kg)

PURDEY OVER AND UNDER GUN - HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT

Purdey were relative latecomers in introducing an over and under gun. This configuration had become increasingly popular and fashionable in the early years of the 20th Century with the rise of competition live pigeon shooting, and subsequently clay targets. Athol Purdey, who ran the firm from 1900 until 1929, was concerned that an over and under mechanism might prove insufficiently robust and thus damage the companys reputation. Eventually, in 1923, the next generation, James and Tom Purdey, understanding the growing demand for this configuration, prevailed upon their father to allow an experimental over and under to be built. Not altogether surprisingly, given Athols concerns, the first examples were

over engineered and too heavy, not only in weight but in looks. Undeterred, James and Tom persisted, and gradually the weight came down, the looks improved and a few were sold each year. In 1948, with the firm under new ownership, and Tom Purdey continuing as Managing Director, Purdey acquired the London gunmaker James Woodward, famous not only for their excellent side by side guns, but also their superb over and under, patented in 1913. Thus Purdey found itself with an over and under unquestionably superior to its own, and the pragmatic decision was taken to adopt the Woodward design which, with one or two minor modifications, became the Purdey.
WEIGHTS OF GUNS

12-bore

THE OVER AND UNDER GUN IS AVAILABLE IN DEDICATED ACTION SIZES IN ALL CALIBRES. IN SQUARE, ROUND OR ULTRA-ROUND ACTION SHAPES.
Calibres .410, 28, 20, 16, 12-bore on dedicated action sizes Chambers 2 & 3 (70 & 76mm) Barrels Demi-bloc barrels 28, 29, 30 (71cm, 74cm, 76cm) Chokes Fixed or Teague choke tubes Rib Solid game rib Action Ultra round bar Traditional square bar also available Triggers Non-selective single trigger Double triggers with optional spring bladed front Guard Flat or beaded edge Safety Automatic or non-automatic Stock Straight or pistol grip Chequered butt or leather covered recoil pad Heel & toe pieces Gold or silver oval Inlaid gold letters Engraving & Finish Traditional fine rose and scroll with colour-hardened or bright finish. Additional engraving options on request

7 lb 4 oz (3.29 kg) - 7 lb 14 oz (3.57 kg) 16-bore 6 lb 8 oz (2.95 kg) - 7 lb (3.18 kg) 20-bore 6 lb 6 oz (2.89 kg) - 6 lb 12 oz (3.00 kg) 28-bore 5 lb 10 oz(2.55 kg) - 6 lb (2.72 kg) .410 5 lb 4oz (2.38 kg) - 5 lb 12 oz (2.60 kg)

Purdey can supply an extra barrel in a different calibre in the following combinations:
20-bore barrels on a 16-bore action 28-bore barrels on a 20-bore action .410 barrels on a 28-bore action

PURDEY DAMASCUS GUN

James Purdey & Sons recent innovation in bespoke gunmaking is a world first: the all Damascus gun. These new guns are made in Purdeys Hammersmith factory from steel produced for them by the steel maker Damasteel AB of Soderfors, Sweden. Damasteel, famous for producing their high performance Damascus steel using their own patented high-tech Powder Metallurgy Method, offer a steel of exceptional purity and higher tensile strength than standard steels. Damasteel forgings, therefore, lend themselves to the exacting standards required of Purdey guns in withstanding the rigours of proof and general service.

Purdey, in-co-operation with their specialised forging partner in Sheffield, England, re-forge the steel to suit the complexity of shapes required for the barrels, ribs, action bodies, lock plates, fore-part irons, triggers and guards. The most challenging process is the twisting of the barrel billets to mirror the familiar twist patterns seen in traditional Damascus barrels of the 19th century. The absence of engraving reveals the extraordinary patterns offered by the Damascus steel once the surfaces have been differentially acid etched. Purdey need only to name and number the guns with either gold inlay or conventional lettering and numbering to give a truly individual and beautiful pattern and look to all the metal parts of the gun. The Purdey Damascus gun is currently available in 12, 20 and 28-bore, either side by side or over and under.

AVAILABLE IN SIDE BY SIDE AND OVER AND UNDER CONFIGURATIONS

WEIGHTS OF GUNS

Calibres

12, 20, 28 on dedicated action sizes Chambers 2 & 3 (70 & 76mm) Barrels Demi-bloc barrels 28, 29, 30 (71cm, 74cm, 76cm) Chokes Fixed or Teague choke tubes Rib Solid game rib

Action

Ultra round bar Traditional square bar also available Triggers Non-selective single trigger Double triggers with optional spring bladed front Guard Flat or beaded edge Safety Automatic or non-automatic

Stock

Straight or pistol grip Chequered butt or leather covered recoil pad Heel & toe pieces Gold or silver oval Inlaid gold letters Engraving & Finish J Purdey & Sons in gold on barrels, option of J Purdey & Sons on lock plates

OVER AND UNDER 12-bore

7 lb 4oz (2.69 kg) - 7 lb 14 oz (3.58 kg) 20-bore 6 lb 6oz (2.69 kg) - 6 lb 10 oz (3.00 kg) 28-bore 5 lb 10 oz (2.55 kg) - 6 lb (2.72 kg) SIDE BY SIDE 12-bore

6 lb 6oz (2.69 kg) - 6 lb 12 oz (3.58 kg) 20-bore 5 lb 15oz (2.69 kg) - 6 lb 4 oz (3.00 kg) 28-bore 5 lb 2 oz (2.32 kg) - 5 lb 8 oz (2.49 kg)

PURDEY SPORTER

The Purdey Sporter, an over and under gun, is available in 12 and 20-bore, the latter offering the option of interchangeable 28-bore barrels. Whether shooting sporting clays or driven game the Sporters performance and handling meets the expectations of a traditional Purdey gun.

The Purdey Sporter shares its ancestry with early twentieth century designs of over and under guns by English makers such as Boss, Woodward, and Edwinson Green. These were to influence several other makers, notably the Italian firm of Perazzi. In 1968 the boutique Brescia gunmaker Perugini & Visini produced their own improved version of the Perazzi design, and then, in 2005, joined with Purdey to make further design changes and developments. This resulted in the Purdey Sporter. Whilst the Sporter stems from a long established and successful design, it has been extensively re-engineered to take advantage of Purdeys advanced CNC machining technology. The essential components are all made in the Purdey factory. These are then shipped to Brescia for Perugini & Visini to insert the barrels in the monoblocs and fit high grade walnut stocks supplied by Purdey. The Italian

company has the specialised experience, skills and machines to undertake this work more cost effectively than in London. The hand engraving of the Sporters specially commissioned large scroll and ribbon design is also done in Italy, after which the guns are assembled and returned to London for proofing, regulating and final hand finishing by Purdey craftsmen. To reach production of the Sporter took three years of painstaking research, development and rigorous testing during the course of which Purdey made no less than 84 separate design modifications and improvements. Thanks to modern gunmaking technology the Sporter is built to extremely fine tolerances, which ensure long term mechanical integrity and strength, and robust and reliable service for generations to come a gun which shoots as well as it looks a true Purdey.

SPORTER OPTIONS

Calibres

20 & 12-bore on dedicated action sizes 28-bore barrels available for 20-bore action Chambers 2 & 3 (70 & 76mm) Barrels 28, 29, 30, 32 (71cm, 74cm, 76cm, 81cm) Chokes Teague choke tubes Fixed chokes also available

Rib

Ventilated or solid Action Sporter trigger-plate action Detachable non-selective single trigger Detachable double triggers also available Safety Automatic or non-automatic Triggers

Engraving & Finish

Sporter pattern large scroll with bright finish. Additional engraving options on request

Stock

Purdey pistol grip Rubber recoil pad Silver oval

WEIGHTS OF GUNS

12-bore

7 lb 10 oz (3.46 kg) - 8 lb (3.62 kg)

20-bore

6 lb 12 oz (3.06 kg) - 6 lb 14 oz (3.12 kg)

PURDEY HAMMER EJECTOR GUN

THE PURDEY HAMMER GUNS 12-BORE & 20-BORE

In 2004 the first of a series of brand new 12-bore hammer guns was delivered to its American owner. Notwithstanding Purdeys proud history and tradition, remaking a gun of this type might sound like a retrograde step, but that is to forget the many enthusiasts who relish the discipline required to shoot this type of gun smoothly and with precision. They enjoy shooting hammer guns for the same reason as a vintage car enthusiast, without the help of a modern synchromesh gearbox, enjoys making slick and noiseless changes. It is a challenge, and a real skill. Once mastered, the rhythm of opening, loading, cocking, firing, opening and reloading a hammer gun becomes second nature like swift and silent gear changes. The timeless elegance of the hammer gun has been brilliantly recaptured by Purdey craftsmen, and they are wonderful to handle and to shoot. The Purdey Hammer Gun now also available in 20-bore is every bit as delightful to use and beautiful to behold as its 19th Century prototype.

HAMMER GUN OPTIONS

Calibres

20 & 12-bore on dedicated action sizes Chambers 2

Triggers

Double triggers with optional spring bladed front Guard Flat or beaded edge Safety Automatic or non-automatic Stock Straight or pistol grip Chequered butt or leather covered recoil pad Heel & toe pieces Gold or silver oval Inlaid gold letters Engraving & Finish Traditional fine rose and scroll with colour-hardened or bright finish. Additional engraving options on request

Barrels

Chopper lump construction 28, 29, 30 (71cm, 74cm, 76cm) Chokes Fixed or Teague choke tubes Rib wide hammer gun rib Concave game rib also available Action Traditional square bar

WEIGHTS OF GUNS

12-bore

from 6 lb 8 oz (2.94 kg) - 6 lb 12 oz (3.06 kg) 20-bore from 5 lb 15 oz (2.69 kg) - 6 lb 4 oz (2.83 kg)

PURDEY DOUBLE BARREL & BOLT ACTION RIFLES

Purdey have been building best quality single and double barrelled sporting rifles since the firm was first established. Like the shotgun, their design and technology improved and developed through the 19th Century. From the 1850s demand for sporting double rifles increased significantly, and Purdey built rifles for use throughout the British Empire, as well as in Europe, Russia, and North and South America.

It was James Purdey the Younger (1828 1909), son of the founder, who in the 1870s coined the term Express Double Rifle, because, like an express train, the fastest means of transport at that time known to man, a bullet from a Purdey double rifle was heavy, travelled at great velocity and with a flat trajectory. Like the Purdey hammerless shotgun, the design of the Purdey side by side double rifle has changed very little since the 1880s when the first hammerless examples made their first appearance and black powder started to give way to more powerful and faster nitro express loads.

James Purdey & Sons continue to produce a limited number of bespoke double rifles each year, offering the following calibres on a dedicated action size: .375 H&H, .470 Nitro, and .600 Nitro. Other calibres, according to individual requirements, can be quoted for. Bespoke bolt action rifles are made to customer requirements. They are built on modern Mauser type actions and are available in most modern calibres. Telescopic sights and quick detachable mounts are available on request.

DOUBLE RIFLE OPTIONS

Calibres

.375, 470, 500, 600 on dedicated action sizes Other calibres available on request Barrels Chopper-lump barrels from 23 Express sights on quarter rib Large or small bead foresight with flip-up moonsight Telescopic sights available as required Sights

Action

Traditional square bar bolstered action Third grip and clip sides Extended top strap Triggers Double triggers with spring bladed front Guard Flat or beaded edge

Safety

Non-automatic bolted safety catch Stock Pistol grip and cap box Cheek piece Sling swivels Leather covered recoil pad Gold or silver oval Inlaid gold letters

Forend

Splinter or beaver-tail forends Engraving & Finish Traditional fine rose and scroll with colour-hardened or bright finish Additional engraving options on request

BOLT RIFLE OPTIONS

Calibres

Most modern calibres available Barrel As required Standard and one folding leaf Small or large bead foresight with sliding protector Telescopic sights available on request Sights

Action

Modern Mauser type Trigger As required Safety Three position safety

Stock

Pistol grip and cap box Cheek piece Chequered butt or leather covered recoil pad Gold or silver oval Inlaid gold letters Engraving Traditional fine rose & scroll with colour-hardened, blued or bright finish

Engraving & Finish

Traditional fine rose and scroll with colour-hardened or bright finish Additional engraving options on request

ENGRAVING

Decorative engraving on guns dates back to the earliest days of gunmaking but only in the last 50 years has gun engraving developed into an internationally recognised art form, with individual engravers achieving fame and examples of their work becoming highly prized and sought after by collectors. Gunmakers originally used relatively simple scroll patterns to decorate their guns and to differentiate quality and price. Engraving requires great skill and artistry, which takes time and costs money, so it follows that the more elaborate the engraving the more expensive the gun. In the mid 1850s Purdey adopted as standard their now traditional fine rose and scroll bouquet engraving and colour hardening on all shotguns and rifles. With individual manufacturers variations this became a style followed by all makers of best quality guns and rifles and distinguishes the English sporting gun at a glance. Although there are examples of large scroll engraving, gold inlay work, and game scenes on Purdey guns dating from before the Second World War they are relatively rare.

After the Second World War, and the arrival on the London gun scene of international collectors, especially those from the United States, the whole world of gun engraving, and gun making, was revolutionised. Here was a new market of wealthy individuals who knew exactly what they wanted and who competed with each other to achieve new styles and innovation in elaborately engraved guns. It was they, rather than the gunmakers, who provided the initial incentive, encouragement, and employment for talented engraving artists, and as gunmakers responded to this new demand, engravers flourished as never before. There are now many specialist gun engravers at work round the world, mainly in Britain and Europe, producing outstanding examples of their craft on a significant percentage of best quality guns, and turning each and every one into a unique work of art. Some engravers are so sought after that they have waiting lists of several years.

ENGRAVING

DIMENSION & SPECIFICATION CHART

IF YOU ARE THINKING OF ORDERING A PURDEY GUN, THE FOLLOWING ARE POINTS FOR CONSIDERATION: RIGHT HANDED SIDE BY SIDE 12 BORE 20 BORE LEFT HANDED OVER & UNDER 28 BORE HAMMER OTHER OTHER SPRING-BLADED FRONT TRIGGER TEAGUE CHOKE TUBES FOR LEAD FOR STEEL SPORTER DAMASCUS ...........................

CHAMBER SIZE STANDARD (2)

ORDERING A PURDEY GUN

When ordering, customers should specify their guns in accordance with their particular shooting needs i.e pheasant, grouse, quail, duck, upland game etc. Different pursuits may require different specifications such as barrel length, chokes, stock length, cast etc.

BARREL LENGTH (INCHES / CMS)........................... SINGLE TRIGGER DOUBLE TRIGGER RIGHT (OR BOTTOM) CHOKE........................... LEFT (OR TOP) CHOKE........................... RIB FINISH........................... PLAIN FINISH SQUARE BAR ACTION THIRD GRIP MATTED FINISH CLIP SIDES FILE CUT (O/U ONLY) ULTRA ROUND BAR ACTION OTHER........................... GOLD 1 & 2 ON PAIR PINLESS LOCK PLATES EXTRA FINISH GOLD PURDEY NAMING INLAID ON UNDERSIDE ROUND BAR ACTION

Naturally Purdey will be pleased to advise customers on any aspect of ordering their guns. We advise that measurements are taken for the gun(s) stock dimensions at a shooting school using a try gun. We can readily arrange this for you here in London. We also have accredited instructors abroad who we can recommend.

TRADITIONAL FINE SCROLL ENGRAVING GOLD PURDEY NAMING INLAID ON LOCKS GOLD SAFE INLAID AUTOMATIC SAFE COLOUR HARDENED FINISH BEADED EDGE TO TRIGGER BOW PISTOL GRIP TO STOCK........................... SILVERS RUBBER HEEL PAD: PLAIN SPLINTER FOREND GOLD OVAL SILVER OVAL NON-AUTOMATIC SAFE

PLAIN SAFE (NO GOLD INLAY) SILVER FINISH (CYANIDE HARDENED) METAL CAP LEATHER COVERED HEEL PAD BEAVERTAIL FOREND GOLD INLAID LETTERS OTHER

On confirmation of order, we require a deposit of 50% of the total price of the gun in accordance with our current price list. Final payment to be made on completion. Delivery times will be quoted on ordering. For further details or advice, please do not hesitate to contact us by post, by telephone or fax, or at www.purdey.com

We can also take measurements using our Electric try gun in our Audley Street premises. We do, however, prefer that measurements are taken in the field.

........................... SKELETON HEEL PLATE INITIALS......................

TOE AND HEEL PIECES SILVER INLAID LETTERS

INLAID MONOGRAM OR CREST IN STOCK

MONOGRAM OR CREST ENGRAVED ON OVAL LENGTH D................. C................... E................. CAST G.............. F................ BEND A.............. B.................

EXTRA BARRELS: LENGTH..................... CHOKE RIGHT (SXS) BOTTOM (O/U).................... CHOKE LEFT (SXS) TOP (O/U)................... MEASUREMENTS AS PER ILLUSTRATION IF KNOWN:

AUDLEY HOUSE, 57-58 SOUTH AUDLEY STREET, LONDON W1K 2ED Tel: +44 (0)20 7499 1801 Fax: +44 (0)20 7355 3297 enquiries@purdey.com www.purdey.com