Purdey

Cleftwynd

Cleftwynd

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My father had two Purdeys, one was my grandfathers, and one was from a great uncle, both were quite unique.

I know both were fitted to my grandpa, and great uncle (I never met either) and both were probably the most beautiful firearms I have seen in person.

Would anyone know Purdey's fitting process? I didn't end up with either of them when my father passed recently, I started to wonder what Purdey does that was so unique. Length of pull, drop at heel, drop at comb, but what else did they measure when fitting an individual?
 
Cleftwynd said:
Would anyone know Purdey's fitting process? I didn't end up with either of them when my father passed recently, I started to wonder what Purdey does that was so unique. Length of pull, drop at heel, drop at comb, but what else did they measure when fitting an individual?
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All of the high-end English gun makers fit an individual in pretty much the same way. I've not had it done at Purdey's but at another maker. The process involves a "try gun," a shotgun with an adjustable stock and a patterning board. Standing 16 yards away you shoot at the patterning board and the stock is adjusted until the pattern is hitting dead centre and your measurements are taken.

In addition to drop they measure cast or bend which is the right to left orientation of the stock to the bore and angle of the butt in relationship to the muzzle otherwise known as pitch.

Here's a link to the London Shooting School that has diagrams of what is measured. They are apparently now doing the fitting for Purdey.

http://www.shootingschool.co.uk/shooting/gun-fitting-service/
 
On Saturday I raised a Purdey, a Boss and a Scott Premier, among others, to my shoulder. None were fitted to me but it sure doesn't stop me from wanting them!;)
 
Back in the 80s there was a Canadian custom shotgun maker, I can never remember the name, that would do a custom fitted gun for a 'mere' $6000 or so (base price, 1980s dollars). One of those things I'll always regret, but I put off getting one for too long and the company folded after it came out they were using Spanish parts and not English as they advertised, and also it seemed clear to everyone that firearms were all likely to be confiscated and nobody wanted an investment gun. Me, I wouldn't have cared about the parts thing at least, it was a darn good deal for such a gun. Anyone remember the company?

When there was a Skinners gun shop in downtown Toronto, I casually picked up a Churchill and Churchill that fitted me down to a T- very hard to walk away from but obtaining it would have required the sale of my car and it was a long walk back home, and once there I would have needed a second mortgage on the house.
 
Big Bad said:
Back in the 80s there was a Canadian custom shotgun maker, I can never remember the name, that would do a custom fitted gun for a 'mere' $6000 or so (base price, 1980s dollars). One of those things I'll always regret, but I put off getting one for too long and the company folded after it came out they were using Spanish parts and not English as they advertised, and also it seemed clear to everyone that firearms were all likely to be confiscated and nobody wanted an investment gun. Me, I wouldn't have cared about the parts thing at least, it was a darn good deal for such a gun. Anyone remember the company?
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I remember the maker but can't recall the guy's name either. I believe he absconded with a few deposits without providing the guns. The ones that were in circulation didn't just have some Spanish parts they were complete Spanish guns with an English name engraved on them. I don't recall if they guy ever did time but he probably should have.
 
Not unusual for a gun to start out as an in the white, unfinished, imported barrelled action.
Weren't the famous Farquarson pattern single shot rifles made up using Belgian barrelled actions? Let alone the Mauser and Mannlicher sporting rifles with British gunmakers' names on them.
 
Cleftwynd said:
My father had two Purdeys, one was my grandfathers, and one was from a great uncle, both were quite unique.

I know both were fitted to my grandpa, and great uncle (I never met either) and both were probably the most beautiful firearms I have seen in person.

Would anyone know Purdey's fitting process? I didn't end up with either of them when my father passed recently, I started to wonder what Purdey does that was so unique. Length of pull, drop at heel, drop at comb, but what else did they measure when fitting an individual?
Click to expand...
As far as I know all shogun fitters use the same general principles to measure fit. Purdy didn't use anything special to measure, they are valuable guns because of the brand name and reputation for quality of manufacture and finish.
 
tiriaq said:
Not unusual for a gun to start out as an in the white, unfinished, imported barrelled action.
Weren't the famous Farquarson pattern single shot rifles made up using Belgian barrelled actions? Let alone the Mauser and Mannlicher sporting rifles with British gunmakers' names on them.
Click to expand...
There is nothing wrong with it provided the seller is being open about the origins of what he is selling. Several English makers have sold guns made elsewhere under their names and at least two, William Evans and E.J. Churchill, are still doing it but they are honest about it and don't represent it as a bespoke best gun.
 
Thanks Claybuster, everyone else as well. I knew about most dimensions, just didn't know how they came to each measurement.
 
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