I found this gun for what looks like a great price but all kind of red flags went up. To me, it looks like someone tried really, really hard to fake a Purdey. And they did a pretty good job (getting some details right... not quality wise). But the devil is in the detail. My guess is that it's fake...
First, off the configuration on the pins is all wrong. This is more in line with a H&H style sidelock... not a Beasley type... red flag #1. How about the colors? Aren't they off a bit, too? Also, take notice of the drop points. They're not typical of a Purdey. And the opening lever has no checkering. And where are the gas escape valves?
The belly of the action doesn't seems as rounded as a typical Purdey. Plus, That little "knuckle" on the forend iron doesn't like right (and neither does the entire shape of the forend iron). You usually see that on Spanish guns.
This is strange. The sidelocks aren't Beasley... but the self-opening system is more aligned with a Beasley than a H&H. I've also noticed that Purdey have a little screw on edge of the flat near the Knuckle... nothing here though. Plus, above the sliding bolt, the flat is squared off, where on a Purdey, it's rounded.
Certainly not BEST wood-to-metal fit...
On a Purdey, the screw in the bottom of the hook sits in a recessed "crater"... not flush and smooth with the surface like this.
The border on the checkering does not fully border the checkering pattern. Behind the safety, the checkering is borderless. The safety itself appears to be the correct shape, but the checkering on the buttom sloppy for a London Best.
This is also quite sloppy for a Purdey.
So What say you? It is fake?