James Purdey & Sons is famous for their custom made shotguns. Every shotgun or rifle they produce is “bespoke”, and customers can order their guns in just about any configuration they desire – and can afford. Most variations have to do with stock configurations, barrel length, gun weight, chamber lengths, etc.
But customers can also order specific finishes on their guns. In the case of the Purdey you see here, the customer requested that the action feature a unique “Black Finish.” Completed in 1945 for a Baron Petitt, this gun is a 12 gauge made for 2″ shells. It’s coming up at Holt’s 3/20 sale.
Lot 1447 J. PURDEY & SONS : A 12-BORE (2IN.) SELF-OPENING SIDELOCK EJECTOR, serial no. 25655: 28in. Whitworth-steel nitro chopperlump barrels, rib engraved ‘J. PURDEY & SONS. AUDLEY HOUSE. SOUTH AUDLEY STREET. LONDON. ENGLAND. MADE OF SIR JOSEPH WHITWORTH’S FLUID PRESSED STEEL.’, the left tube engraved ‘ENGLAND’, the short rib gold-inlaid ‘2″ CASE’, 2in. chambers, bored approx. imp. cyl. and 1/2 choke, right wall at 18, self-opening action with removable striker discs, automatic safety with gold-inlaid ‘SAFE’ detail, cocking-indicators, best fine acanthus scroll and floral bouquet engraving, retaining much original black finish, 14 1/2in. stock with sling eye, weight 5lb. 8oz.
