The royalty angle is amusting. If Purdey depended on royalty and nobility for his living he would have gone bankrupt. The shaming of fellow lords and nobles by Lord Henry Bentinck to pay up their debts to Purdey is well documented.

The ledger books of Purdey and other makers feature more plain Misters and middle army ranks than lords and princes. The untitled were and are the bread and butter clientele.

Designwise, there is not a boxlock made anywhere that can rival the Beretta 626. In sidelocks their 451 can stand against any other. In OU sidelocs the trapezoid shoulders yield a shallower and NARROWER gun than any Boss derived OU.

As for what can be done if you go seriously custom, the photo is of a humble Essential 686 that was customised by British gunmaker Casleton. I post the link because photo posting here is such a pain

http://oplognosia.com/?s=Casleton&submit=

Last edited by Shotgunlover; 03/25/17 08:45 AM.