It was Purdey No 10615,# 2 of a Pair Built 1878-79. Delivered by James Purdey"The Younger" Jan 1st 1880 as a pair of Pigeon Guns with the New' Whitworth Steel Tubes'...(Sorry Gunmaker Speak")..".Barrels." Don Dallas and "Self" did extensive research through Purdey's Records(With untiring Effort from Peter Blaine) for the "True Gen" on Purdey and the Whitworth Story. McIntosh wrote a good artical on my Gun in Shooting Sportsman Mag.The stock, "Off the Gun", with Gold oval after I did what we used to call( At Purdeys) A Maximum Bore" weighed 11oz. I had taken 7 1/2 oz out. I "Bagged the French Walnut that I had removed and kept it with the Original Stock. I Restocked the gun for the next owner. That was the most I have ever removed from a Straight English Hand Stock that had a 14 1/4" Length.The Stock-Walls averaged 1/8th or less, but after I 'Full Butt-Plugged" the Butt-End,Aprox. 1/8th thick....We put the Stock to the "Ultimate Workshop Test"...a Large member of the"Grand Order of'B.A.G.s (Aprox 250lbs.) stood on the side of the stock when I put it on the Shop floor....I think it was Winston S. Churchill who when in the Sudan around 1896 ,said 'Theres nothing so Exhilarating in Life, as being shot at, with no Result...I felt a little like that as the French Walnut Stock flexed a bit' But No Cracking Sounds!!! There was a small Wager before the"B.A.G." did his Balancing Act!!!!"They dont Grow Walnut Like That 'NO.MO"......cc/dt
