Greg - I understand what you are asking. Logical as it seems, that information is just not in the maker's name. For example, that Purdey you refered to as a benchmark - would that be a Beasley patent sidelock or the "E" grade boxlock? Mighty big difference. By name, both are a Purdey. Any Brit master could get out a best quality gun - if only a commission came in to do so. Purdey's got a lot of commissions and W. P. Jones got few. A Jones best is as good as a Purdey's best, but then so would be equal grades of boxlocks. A typical Jones boxlock is not, however, going to be the equal of a Purdey's best SLE (there were also graded SLE's) or vise versa. It is well worthwhile to know the history of the makers of your guns. But, it is financial folly to try to associate original quality grades of individual guns with makers' names.
