Is a James Purdey & Sons shotgun worth it?+
If you measure worth purely by how a gun puts pellets on a clay, the premium over a competent factory gun is hard to justify. But a Purdey is a bespoke sporting shotgun built to high-end standards in London, fitted to one owner and finished by hand, and that is what buyers are really paying for. Collectors and shooters who value British best-gun craft and the firm's long heritage tend to find it worth it; practical hunters often do not.
Why is a Purdey gun so expensive?+
Purdey specialises in high-end bespoke sporting shotguns and rifles, and each gun is made and tailored largely by hand in the company's own factory. The price reflects that handwork, the firm's two centuries of refinement since its founding in 1814, and a reputation underpinned by Royal Warrants. You are buying a one-of-a-kind object built to last generations, not a mass-produced tool.
How is a Purdey different from a Holland & Holland?+
Both are London best-gun makers working at the very top of the sidelock tradition, so the differences are in the detail rather than the league. Purdey's signature is the self-opening hammerless action designed by Frederick Beesley in 1880, in which one limb of a V-spring works the hammers and the other powers the self-opening feature. The choice usually comes down to handling, house style, and personal allegiance rather than one being plainly better.
What is Purdey best known for?+
Purdey is the archetypal British best-gun maker, famed for bespoke side-by-side and over-and-under shotguns and double rifles. Its name is bound up with technical milestones such as the Purdey Bolts locking system and the concealed third 'bite' that holds the barrels closed, both still in production today. Many other gunmakers later adopted these features.
Where are Purdey guns made?+
Purdey's guns and rifles are built in the company's Hammersmith factory in London, where it has been based since the late 1970s. The factory was fully rebuilt in 2014 to mark the firm's bicentenary and reopened in 2015. The famous shop and showroom sit at 57-58 South Audley Street, where Purdey has been since 1882.
When and where was James Purdey & Sons founded?+
James Purdey established the business in London in 1814, on Princes Street near Leicester Square, after training under noted gunmakers Joseph Manton and the Rev. Alexander Forsyth. His son, James Purdey the Younger, took two of his own sons into the firm in 1878, which is when it was renamed James Purdey & Sons. The company has been British and London-based throughout.
Who owns Purdey now?+
James Purdey & Sons has been owned by Compagnie Financière Richemont SA since 1994, when Richard Beaumont sold the company. The founding family still has a presence on the board: Richard Purdey's daughter Annika, the seventh generation, sits as a non-executive director. Dan Jago became chairman in December 2019.
Does Purdey have a Royal Warrant?+
Yes, and it is central to the brand's standing. Purdey received its first Royal Warrant in 1868 from the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, followed by Queen Victoria in 1878, and has held warrants from their successors ever since. In May 2024 the firm was granted a Royal Warrant by King Charles III, continuing over 150 years of service to the British Royal Family.
Does Purdey make anything besides guns?+
It does. Purdey had always supplied shooting accessories, but it launched a full range of clothing and accessories in 1974, started by Lavinia Beaumont and originally focused on high-quality shooting clothing, gifts, and accessories. That range has since broadened into luxury lifestyle pieces and luggage, and Giles Deacon became creative director in June 2024.
Are old Purdey guns a good investment?+
Because each Purdey is built bespoke and largely by hand, no two are quite alike, which is part of why fine examples hold their value well over time. That said, condition, originality, gauge, and provenance all matter enormously, so a vintage gun is worth assessing carefully rather than buying on the name alone. Treat it as an heirloom object first and an investment second.
What kind of rifles does Purdey make?+
Alongside shotguns, Purdey has a long rifle tradition, having helped develop the first 'Express' rifle in 1851 for high-velocity dangerous-game cartridges, a name still used today. The firm continues to build double rifles with a reinforced side-by-side action, and since 1931 it has offered bolt-action rifles using Mauser actions, including a 2018 model with a titanium chassis to free-float the barrel.
