Loyal Readers may remember that a couple-three months ago I talked about fine shotguns, and my takeaway was that even if the Lottery Gods were to smile upon my choice of numbers, I’d be unlikely to buy a matched pair of Purdeys.
So what makes one of Purdey’s bespoke guns so exclusive, and yes, so expensive?
This evening, gather about ye a quart or so of your favorite beverage (Scotch, gin, coffee etc.) and spend the following hour and a half walking through the Purdey process — all of it — to see everything that goes into making one of these:
All that said: even with all the money in the world (so to speak), I don’t know if I’d ever buy myself a Purdey (let alone a matched pair) — but I would seriously consider buying one, or a pair, for the Son&Heir under those circumstances. (He’s a better shot than I am, and he’d have longer to enjoy shooting it than I would. Plus, it’s a good investment.)
And one final warning: do not go and browse around Steve Barnett’s website; it is a Very Bad Place, and will cause you to think Unworthy Thoughts.
My last company I worked for, for 4 and a half years was Richemont in the Montblanc division and I was surprised when I found out that along with Cartier and lots of other fine watch brands they own Purdey Shotguns. I could purchase most anything in any of the brands with a discount so I asked it I could buy a shotgun, which I could never afford and the answer was laughter and a head shake no. To the best of my knowledge they have left that company alone, just to make incredible shotguns by hand and sell them for fantastic prices.
When it comes to investment collections of things that are rare and will appreciate I think fine shotguns, which you can shoot, reasonably easy to store might be the best choice.
The real question being not how much a “best” gun would cost, but how much a working-grade shotgun with a custom stock would run. I suspect that number might be considerably more affordable than people think.
American shooters have an annoying habit of wanting two shoddy guns instead of one good gun.
I suppose this will brand me a heretic, but the video shows the process of putting a shotgun together using lots of files. I imagine they have some modern machinery, I think I may have seen something in the background. I understand and also appreciate the craftsmanship and time involved, but does it make a better product? The fit of wood and steel is nicely done and the engraving is truly art in every sense of the word. I suppose people who buy them will buy them because they cost so much. I mean $69,000.00 for a shotgun seems like a lot me. I guess you are buying an objet d’art as much as a useful tool to break clay pigeons or shoot grouse.