doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Question for those that know Purdey hammerguns.

I am considering the purchase of J. Purdey #96XX (c.1876). This is a 12-ga. toplever back-action hammergun with 30" damascus barrels. All numbers match. There are no "Quality E" etc. stampings on the water table or elsewhere. The seller is saying that he believes, but isn't positive, that the barrels have been rebarreled by Purdey using a set of barrels from an earlier underlever gun because the top rib is not on the same plane as the top of the action when closed--the top rib is actually close to 1/8" lower. So here's the question:

Should the top rib be on the same plane as the top of the action at the standing breech on all original Purdey hammerguns from this period?

my Purdey hammer gun experience is limited to drooling near (they won't let me drool on them) friend's guns

but would Purdey not know how to rebarrel a gun and match ribs to the breech

I have never see a top name maker cobble up a gun like you describe. Reputation is everything to them so no half way repairs. It sounds like someone used a set of barrels which could be fit to the gun but needed the top rib redone to match the receiver. They made a shooter out of two projects.

Of course Purdey would know how to line them up but, maybe J. Blanch & Sons didn't; as you can see in this picture below of the step down from the action down to the top rib. These barrels are assumed to be original to this Blanch. Might Purdey have done something similar or would Purdey never have allowed them to leave the factory like this?

X2^^^^^
It's just wrong. I would seriously doubt any markings on the barrels, if indeed the stamped numbers match, as it sounds like a back-door cobble and restamp job to me.
If you're in doubt, call Purdey, I'm sure they would be more than happy to help. I personally haven't dealt with them, but Holland & Holland, and EJ Churchill have been very helpful to me in the past, and I would expect no less from Purdey.

You indicate that the serial number is 5 digits - #96XX. Up until 1877 Purdey serial numbers were 4 digits; they went on consecutively so that the first 5 digit numbers were the 10### series.

The # of your serial number would have to be a 1. By the time Purdey's were making guns in the 19### series, around 1907, they were almost all Beesley pattern hammerless with steel barrels. I would therefore advise caution as to the authenticity of the gun you describe.

Tim

Edit: I have just realised that you intended the # in front of the serial number to indicate 'Number', in the American fashion. Mia culpa! Please disregard my post.

I urge you to contact Purdey. They are fanatic about fixing customer guns and meticulous about their repairs. I have dealt with them and can vouch re the above

Sounds fishy. I can't imagine Purdey used old parts to rebbl the gun - unless the original owner had an old set of tubes he wanted saved.

And wouldn't going from an underlever to a toplever require new lumps? That means stripping the bbls down and rebuilding them - if it could even be done. If you're going through all that work, why not use a new rib?

What does the serial # on the bbls look like?

OWD

I e-mailed Purdey about 5pm CST this afternoon, of course it was about 11pm there. I'm looking forward to hearing back from them in the next couple of hours or so . I'm also awaiting better pics from the seller--specifically of this area. If it's like my Blanch above I wouldn't have a problem with it, would you?

If its original, it would be fine by me.

Check these out:

http://www.drake.net/products/Purdey-Lon....-1882?id=28633

http://www.dogsanddoubles.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/IMG_3524.jpg

http://www.heritageguns.co.uk/Purdey%208393%20Hgun/Purdey%208393%20Hgun%20Top%20Detail%20800.jpg

OWD