I think Dig may have missed the DGJ article years ago about the Fox gun that lived as a rental piece at the English shooting grounds for most of 100 years. I seem to think Tom Kidd wrote the article, not positive, but, the gun held up as well, or, better than the English stuff did, was serviced right along side the English stuff, and was a favorite of English shooters on the grounds.
Anytime someone prattles on about Purdeys and quality, I think of Edsel (or was it Henry II?) Ford's matched set of Purdey's, from "between the wars" ( Uh, WWII and Korea) and what complete pieces of crap those guns are.
Best,
Ted