Purdey Best Gun
James Purdey & Sons Ltd · Shotgun · In Production · 1880
Also known as: Purdey Best Sidelock, Purdey Side-by-Side, Purdey 12-bore
Overview
The Purdey Best Gun is a bespoke, hand-built sidelock side-by-side break-action shotgun made by James Purdey & Sons of London. The defining example of the British 'best gun', it is built on the Beesley self-opening action patented in 1880, in which residual mainspring energy assists barrel opening for fast reloading. Chambered most commonly in 12 gauge, each gun is hand-fitted to the customer, finished with fine rose-and-scroll engraving and case-hardened locks, and fitted with double triggers and ejectors. Purdey builds fewer than one hundred such guns and rifles a year.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3120 g (110.1 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1150 mm (45.28") |
| Barrel Length | 711 mm (27.99") |
| Action Type | Break Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Double Trigger |
| Magazine Capacity | 2 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 400 m/s (1312 fps) |
| Effective Range | 40 m (44 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | None |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Case Hardened |
Calibers
- 12 Gauge · primary — also known as 12ga, 12 Bore
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Break Action Double Barrel
- Safety mechanisms: Automatic Safety, Intercepting Sears
- Features: Sidelock, Self Opening Action, Ejector, Double Triggers, Rose And Scroll Engraving, Bespoke Fitted
Variants
- Purdey Over-and-Under - Over Under
Service history
Operators
- Sporting and game shooters
- British Royal Family
Production
Production years: 1880-present
Purdey produces fewer than one hundred bespoke shotguns and rifles per year
Origin
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Designer: Frederick Beesley
Notes
Each Best Gun is bespoke and takes many months to build, so dimensions and weight vary between individual guns; figures given are typical for a 28-inch-barrelled 12-bore game gun.
Background
James Purdey trained under Joseph Manton before founding his own London firm in 1814, becoming gunmaker to Queen Victoria and successive British monarchs. The self-opening action at the heart of the Best Gun was invented in 1879 by Frederick Beesley, a former Purdey stocker, and patented the following year; Purdey side-by-side guns have been built on it ever since.