Lot 243: SUBLIME PETER CHAPMAN OF PURDEY’S 28-BORE SHOTGUN
“Buy the gun, not the name” is something collectors say all the time. The SxS you see here is a great example of what they mean. Even though very few people have heard of the maker (Peter Chapman), the quality of the gun is apparent to anyone who looks at it — and that’s what really matters.
Peter Chapman was a British gunmaker who apprenticed with James Purdey & Sons, and then spent 25 years working for the famed London gunmaker. In the 1970s, he struck out on his own and started building shotguns with his name on them. Many of those guns were Purdey-style SxSs like the incredibly well-made 28g you see here.
Twenty-eight gauges are a challenge for makers like Purdey. The Purdey/Beesley action is difficult to scale down, and in doing so, the proportions and aesthetics of the gun are often thrown off.
That’s NOT the case with this 28g by Peter Chapman. Mr Chapman got everything right with this one, and that’s what impresses me so much about it. On top of being beautiful, the gun’s lightweight (5lbs. 2oz) like a 28 gauge should be. It also has modern 2 3/4″ chambers and a decent long LOP (15″). So shooting it will be just as pleasurable as looking at it.
[GO HERE TO BID ON THIS 28g PETER CHAPMAN/PURDEY SXS]
Eulogy for Peter Chapman
Written by his longtime friend David Brown, originally printed in The Double Gun Journal
Peter Chapman, gunmaker, was born in Tottenham, North London to Christopher and Eleanor Chapman. Peter’s father was a carpenter and joiner, his mother a housewife.
In 1939 Peter was evacuated to the Essex/Suffolk border in avoidance of the London air raid bombings and stayed in the area until the war ended. After graduating high school he intended to enter into the stained glass trade but an odd fate intervened. Peter told me his father was a lodge mate in a fraternal order with Harry Lawrence, a director of James Purdey & Sons and soon to be the managing director. Chris Chapman mentioned something to Mr. Lawrence about his son going into the stained glass trade but said the boy was really mad about guns. Mr. Lawrence suggested bringing the lad around. He was presented to Chris Gadsby, the factory manager, and in 1952 Peter found himself apprenticed as a Purdey finisher with Gadsby as his gaffer.
In 1971, I met Peter through Geoffrey Casbard, a Kell-trained engraver, a then employee of James Purdey & Sons and a long-time friend of Peter’s. After 25 years with “The Firm” as Peter called it, Peter and I partnered with the intent of making best guns to between the wars standards. We purchased a property in the village of Little Yeldham in East Anglia near where he stayed as a child during the war, installed a workshop there and so began a long and interesting venture.
Many trips back and forth ensued. I would go to England three or four times a year and Peter would come to America on a regular basis. My job seemed to be to sell guns to Americans. Peter’s job while here was to charm those potential customers and he was very very good at it. In the process he met and usually charmed an amazing number of interesting people.
He was invited to The Court Of Saint James Embassy in London by Bill Saxby, former Attorney General Of The United States and, at that time, the American Ambassador to India. While at the embassy Saxby introduced him to Anne Armstrong, a member of the King Ranch family and the American Ambassador to The Court Of Saint James. Later Peter became close to other members of the King Ranch family. He made a number of guns for Bobby Shelton, Captain King’s great grandson. Shelton and Peter became close friends and Bobby introduced him to a number of interesting people including Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart.
Bobby also owned the Flying D Ranch in Montana and Peter spent time there hunting mule deer and elk and watching cowboys. Real cowboys… Peter’s love for the American West was endless. He also shot ruffed grouse and woodcock in Minnesota,
sharp tails in both Dakotas and bobwhites in South Texas. Lots of bobwhites in South Texas…
Peter told me about 160 guns were completed, most on Beesley/Purdey actions, a few on H&H or Rogers actions, a few best quality boxlocks and two or three under/overs on Woodward/Purdey actions. Chapman guns are scattered across America, many of them in collections owned by some of the most knowledgeable shooters and collectors in the country. All were sold by word of mouth or referral with no advertising of any kind.
Peter Chapman was a very complex and, at times, a very trying individual but a workman of the first water. On many occasions I watched him make and fit things and even after seeing it done I still couldn’t understand how he did such wonderful work with the simplest of tools.
He was one of the first, if not the very first of the recent London Gunmakers to strike out on his own and also one of the last to be trained in the pre cad/cam machine era.
Unfortunately, all of the records appear to have gone missing. A few years ago he was diagnosed with the vascular dementia which ended his life. He remained in his home until quite recently but the records and equipment disappeared from the house during his decline. Hopefully they will reappear. I make little claim to the veracity of most of this but it is a true account of my observations and what was relayed to me over the years by Peter.
Wherever you might be, Mr. Chapman, it’s been quite a ride and I’m glad you came my way.
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