I have used an 1889 Purdey as my main game gun for about eithg years. It is biult on the same action to the same stadards as any other Beesley action Purdey and, if it has not been messed about, will have all the quality, handling and class of any later gun arguably more.
I use mine for pigeon shooting , goose shooting, duck shooting, rabbiting, formal game shooting, sporting clays and everything else.
Buy it, use it and don't feel guilty about putting it to the use it was intended for. You won't find a better gun, handling wise, workmanship wise or mechanically - that's what made them famous: they are very good for shooting with and they function beautifully.!
just be careful to check that it was originally an ejector and has not been converted - if it has been converted, that is cool as long as the conversion is agood one and works well. Mine is and it does.
I love the older Purdeys - just sold an 1884 model with 30" damascus barrels to a client and almost cried as I waved goodbye to it. Absolutely beautiful, full of history, charm, class and brilliant to shoot.Brilliant to hold when you are not shooting. You are in the field on a rainy afternoon with your 1889 Purdey- and all is well with the world.
