doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com The middle class's pre-enjoyed Purdeys - where?

It wasn't so very long ago, that one could find a rather tired, altho rough looking - but entirely usable Purdey for 9-10K or there abouts. Between the old Cape Outfitters, and Westley in Springfield, I must have looked at a half-dozen or more in a year's time.
Most were listed as "good" and thats good enough for many in the budget minded income class.
Are there anymore to be found?

Lowell, I've bought 3 hammergun Purdeys for alot less than that in the last year. I've been offered 3 or 4 hammerless for less than that also but they are still too high for me to put that much into one gun.

We are getting closer to the bottom of the barrel. Prices may, I say may, be going up somewhat. Keep a close eye on the major UK auctions. Shop the usual suspects. They are out there, just not exactly thick on the ground.

I personally have been looking for affordable Purdey's also. I purchased one a few years ago in that range and was deeply disappointed in the gun.(off face replaced (non Purdey) barrels smoothed over engraving-you name it). I learned a LOT about Purdeys and English gun purchasing in general since then

I feel that a Purdey in that price range usually has something wrong with it. I used to set up in Louisville by Don Shrum and he himself told me, when he had whole bunch of cheap Purdeys, that they were all "junk".

Unless one is insanely lucky in his purchase, a decent Purdey will be more in the 25k range now.

They would be no improvement over the Beesley, Thorny. I did get to chat with the owner at Champlin about that neat old Boss that was hashed thoroughly here a few weeks past-he said it was an old, tired gun with new wood and tubes. He also said he 'coulda sold it 15 times or so-he didn't need any help moving that one. Viagra jOey's theory is likely blown, but, hey, what else is new?

Hammers aren't my thing, but, why didn't you bite? $4400 was a low price to pay for admission to that club. The name game you seem enamoured with can't be purchased for much less most days of the week. You'da been in fine form, frozen loads in the spanking new chambers, drawing a bead on them webbies, with the locals thinking the SS Lowell had finally come to Papa, with money to burn.

Too late, today, however. The Bgun will have to suffice.
Best,
Ted

At one recent local show, there were three passable Purdey game guns for $8000 to $8500 each. One was a great 30" Whitworth barrel gun reproofed to 1 1/4 ounce in unmolested condition aside from the reproof. The gun is now in the hands of its next owner and is for sale for twice the previous asking price. The lesson here is that finding reasonably priced Purdeys means being there when they are offered for sale the first time. Otherwise, you are too late. You must surf the net, go to shows, use the phone. Otherwise, you will be paying retail.

I wholeheartledly agree. One must be the first purchaser of a gun to get it for the best price. What I mean by first purchaser is that one must be the first one to realize what the hell he is looking at. I have seen items pass through a few hands without going up much due to lack of knowledge of what they had (this is rare these days, though) If one is able to scour the shows, classifieds, and internet, one is able to find deals from time to time. This also true of any collectable-i.e. good (not so)common sense.

I found my Purdey by the way, and a Holland and Holland too! I hit it somewhere in the middle price wise of first purhcaser and retail but I am quite happy with the quality of both. I probably passed on 100 guns to get to what I wanted though.

I won't even mention the best source of "first chance" guns of quality.

Please? I do know of one guy that talks to pastors of churches and funeral directors to get to widows of gun colletors! He claims to be very successful.

I'm sure he offers top dollar for that old iron too. The old ladies are probably glad to get rid of it.