Originally Posted By: Dan S. W.
I came across this in old emails and it reminded me of this post. To my untrained eye, it reeks of understated quality. Now only to free up 18K...

https://new.liveauctioneers.com/item/42962897_cased-james-purdey-sxs-shotgun-c


In the description it states,

"They have made shotguns since 1880 for all of the Royal Houses"

That's short a few decades. I'm of the opinion that these English guns established their reputations of durability during the muzzleloading period on three continents including North America. From there, and if they survived the transition to the breechloader, never looked back.

Granted there are guns built by firms from other countries as or more expensive but they do not have the history of quality and durability under the harshest of conditions established by these English firms.

"We want the English gun for it will not blow up and hurt us and their locks work in the winter time." So said numerous American Indians to a very frustrated and exasperated John Jacob Astor founder of the American Fur Company.


If you want references, I'll get them for ya. smile