The market does ascribe value to names and in about the following multiplicands:

BV1 Makers’ Names – Price Factor = 8

Boss, Holland & Holland, Purdey, and Woodward


BV2 Makers’ Names – Price Factor = 6

Westley Ricahrds, Dickson, Rigby, Grant , Beesley, Powell, Atkin, Churchill, Henry, Lancaster, Evans, Watson, Wilks, Greener, Boswell, Gibbs, and Lang


BV3 Makers’ Names – Price Factor = 4

Rest of the British Trade and top Continental (Bury, LeBeau, Masquelier, Francotte, Brancquart, Le Page, Gastine Renatte, )


BV4 Makers’ Names – Price Factor = 2

Lesser known Continental names or names largely associated with low OQ grades


BV5 Makers’ Names – Price Factor = 1

Unknown names or unnamed

The "fly in the ointment" of relying on brand name to determine quality is that, with the possible exception of Boss, all makers sold a range of Original Quality grade guns. Ergo, a BLE Purdey is a "nice gun," but not at all in the same league with the Purdey SLE. Exclusively trusting the Purdey name makes no distinction among their quality grades. So, one needs to consider both name and quality grade. One must study sufficiently to buy safely within his price range and/or rely on someone else to know more and deal fairly. Trusting a dealer is the only shortcut to educating yourself. Using brand name as a shortcut will, sooner or later, sock you in the wallet.