Thank you Rocket for typing all that as it clarifies. I find this all fascinating. I am just hopeful that if I had to resell the gun I could at the price I paid, this is why I repeat myself on my motives...not a collector. So it is important that I see that the price is in line with the market....here is something about this gun that from what you say is interesting. If Purdey bought Woodward in 1948, and did so for the primary purpose of obtaining proprietary rights over its O/ U. The owner at the time decided whatever reason to get new barrels from some firm other than Purdey...that decision could have also been made while Woodward existed ...until I can get an accurate date on the rebarrelling. The reasons are lost in History. But from what I read between the lines from your thoughtful opinion is that there are gun makers, or barrel makers who had the resources and talent to make barrels as good as any original if the time was taken to melt the barrels with the gun. The fly in the ointment is that had the owner brought the gun to Purdey...Purdey was not the maker....It could have hired Woodward workers, but maybe only their O/ U guys and said we do not need more barrel makers. Again just speculating. so in fact, this Woodward or any Woodward would never have barrels made by Woodward after 1948. But there probably would be a premium to have the new Purdey barrels on...but what about good Birmingham barrel makers? It seems every gun has its own history... And to place them into broad categories is so subjective ...but obvious necessary to get a measuring rod. Just thinking.
Ps. Here is another thought..what if Cogswell and Harrison or Greener bought Woodward? Would getting a new barrel from Coggy be considered from the maker? This all emphasis the cache of the big three.
Last edited by Condor; 07/17/13 07:33 AM.
