doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com O T Did Purdey Ever Make Pistols?

I am fortunate to own a magnificent pair of westley Richards Officer's Pistols in their original case with all the accessories. I'll try to post some pictures.

Best Regards, George

OT, but please indulge me. Jerry, your post jarred something in my memory. I wasn't present, so what I'm about to relate to you is third-hand.

Anyway, I was told that at a shooting match at my club about 20 years ago, a gentleman had brought a beautiful Colt SAA, presentation box and all, chambered for the .455 Eley cartridge.

Even though at the time I was a burgeoning Colt SAA nut I never followed this bait, thinking it was yet another apocryphal nugget so prevalent in the world of old guns and collectors.

So now, years after circumstances forced me to sell all my Colts, I put forth the question, especially to our British friends. Anybody know of a production ColtSAA of this ilk?

A fine pair of Purdey cased duelling pistols in Bonhams sale April 18th. lot # 273 estimate $16000 to $23000

There is documentation that Colt produced the SAA in .455 Eley for the British market. I'll look up the number produced in that caliber when I have time.
Jim

I am thinking that having a wounded tiger sitting in your lap on top of a stampeding elephant must be pretty exciting . . . .

Bet he wished he had a Howdah pistol:
Action starts about 2:45
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdKFioMyieQ

I have to say, Victorian extreme sports really kept the heart pumping. I think I would go with a .22 just for the rush of wiping the tiger off the elephants head with a 16 bore buck and ball. This method takes dangerous game hunts to a extreme level.

If you live in NY, drop by the Holland store and check out the cased Howdah pistol they have there !!!! fabulous but they won�t sell it to me best

Steal it! That'll show 'em

Howdahs are a tricky subject, here in the US. If one has a smooth bore it would be considered a short barreled shotgun, hence illegal or an NFA weapon. I only buy percussion howdahs, for this reason. Even a worn break action could land you in prison or court if the rifling was worn. New York has the worst gun laws in the country since they are handguns they are heavily regulated in NYC, antique or not. That is probably why the wont sell them to you. I say liberate them in the name of the Queen!