The company began its journey on Princes Street, where James Purdie worked for the great gunsmith Joseph Manton before setting up his business.
purdey.com
In 1814 James Purdey & Sons was founded.
In 1826, they moved to Manton's former premises in Oxford Street and then in 1882 to the corner of South Audley and Mount Streets.
The photo shows a James Purdey & Sons label from the company's Oxford Street days.
Pictured: a reference 30" Damascus barrel with 2 3/4" nitro protection, in a beautiful original case.
Purdey weapons continued to evolve to include rifles, both double-barreled and bolt-action. The company remained true to its traditions, producing weapons by hand, which makes each piece unique and extremely expensive.
Making a gun using the Purdey method takes around 500 hours of handcraft at its factory in Hammersmith, West London. Prices start at $89,000 for the side-by-side guns, so named because of the arrangement of the two barrels. Prices for over-and-under models start at about $105,000.
Modern sign for the James Purdey & Sons boutique, UK.
Stock shop on Irongate Wharf Road (now Harbeth Road) in 1933.
locallocalhistory.co.uk
James Purdey & Sons' royal clientele is graced by acquisitions by Queen Victoria as far back as 1838. The company's weapons were also supplied to Indian princes in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Today's unique offering on Violity is a 1913 James Purdey 12 gauge shotgun. This example, the second of a pair, is a true collector's item.
The length of the barrels is 30 inches (ca. 76 centimeters), the bell is 18.6 — all are in perfect working order, without the shafts or shells.
The preservation of the "Safe" engraving close to the safety indicates that the weapon was cared for and rarely used.
This lot is an opportunity to own not just an item, but a part of the great history of James Purdey & Sons, which continues to live in each of their masterpieces.
