JAMES PURDEY & SONS GUN AND RIFLE MAKERS: TWO HUNDRED YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

472 pages. Huge Volume. Book is 10.5" x 12.5". Hundreds of beautiful sharp photographs and illustrations, many in color. "There is no gunmaker personally better known than Mr. Purday; there is none less written about" wrote G.T. Teasdale-Buckell in Experts on Guns and Shooting in 1900. The name 'James Purdey & Sons' is universally respected and known the world over as maker of the finest quality guns. Established by James Purdey the Elder in 1814, Purdey built best-quality guns, rifles and pistols to the highest standards, right from the start. Patronized by European royalty and nobility, they could claim to have built guns for all nine kings attending King Edward Vii's funeral in 1910. Today the firm still continues that tradition begun in 1814. James Purdey the Elder's son James Purdey the Younder, took over the running of the firm in 1858 and was responsible for developing the muzzle-loading rifle to the pinnacle of its development, the Express rifle. In the early breech-loading period he invented in 1863, the most famous closing action of all time, the Purdey bolt. He was quick to see the advantages of the hammerles gun and was astute in purchasing and developing the Beesley hammerless action of 1880 that is universally admired today. He created guns of great style and elegance and established the form of the hammerless ejector for all other to follow. The author has produced several appendices of great interest to the Purdey owner and colector. Purdey serial numbers are listed for the years 1814-2014 to assist with dating guns; production figures are given to show the rarity of certain weapons; all the Purdey patents are described and of particular interest are the Purdey gunmaker names to help identify initials stamped on the various parts of Purdey guns. The Seond Edition celebrates Purdey's two hundred years of gunmaking form 1814 to 2014. It brings the history of the firm right up to date - over 170 photographs have been added which sit alongside fresh material. New appendices have been inserted covering Purdey rifle cartridges, a rare 1885 Purdey gun catalogue and Purdey gun cases. An outstanding reference. There is a bump to the bottom back corner, otherwise both the Book and the Dust Jacket look new and unread. Overall the Book and the Dust Jacket are in Near Fine condition.…