For over two centuries, James Purdey & Sons has ranked among the finest names in gunmaking. From shooting champions to English royalty, Purdey sporting arms have been treasured far and wide, and owning a shotgun or rifle from the famed London gunmaker is a dream come true for countless sportsmen, shooters, and collectors today. Rock Island Auction Company's Premier Auctions in Bedford, Texas include some of the finest Purdey shotguns and double rifles in the collecting pursuit.

These 20 gauge Purdey shotguns were built as a pair and completed on October 8th, 2001 and engraved by the legendary master engraver Philippe Grifnee.

When it comes to fit, accuracy, precision, and exceptional workmanship, Purdey shotguns represent the upper echelon of the sporting arms genre. Rock Island Auction Company offers some of the finest vintage and modern Purdey shotguns for sale.

Filled with luxury arms from the world's finest collections, Rock Island Auction Company features exceptional examples from every genre of the sporting pursuit, including magnificent pieces from Holland & Holland, Boss, Westley Richards, and other elite names in English gunmaking.

A master Rashid El Hadi signed and elephant engraved James Purdey & Sons self-opening sidelock dangerous game double rifle in .600 Nitro Express.

Founder James Purdey

Company founder James Purdey received his first apprenticeship in 1798 at the age of 14. Seven years later, his talent and commitment earned him a position with Joseph Manton, arguably the most renowned London gunmaker of his era. Manton stressed the importance of detail in every aspect of armsmaking, with James Purdey later remarking, “But for him, we should all have been a parcel of blacksmiths.”

A cased pair of silver and gold inlaid John Manton percussion dueling pistols.

After working for Reverend Alexander Forsyth, the inventor of the first percussion lock, James Purdey decided to build a business of his own. In 1814, Purdey set up shop at 4 Princes Street, near Leicester Square in the West End of London. Purdey started small, producing only six firearms in his first year of operation.

By 1824, Purdey was manufacturing 165 guns a year, including, pistols, rifles, and exceptional double guns, including the 1834 dated cased pair of engraved percussion dueling target pistols offered below.

This pair of cased and engraved Purdey dueling pistols was sold on August 1, 1834, for £52.10.0. according to 'The Early Purdeys' by L. Patrick Unsworth.

Marked serial number 424, this example is one of the earliest and rarest Purdey percussion guns ever offered, a 14 bore double barrel shotgun with a stunning curly maple stock from the 1820s. The shotgun was recently inspected by James Purdey & Sons Ltd, and they confirmed this gun as the only known Purdey in private hands stocked with a spectacular piece of birdseye maple.

A documented engraved Purdey double barrel percussion shotgun from the 1820s with a Purdey Patent Safety Sears and an exceptionally rare birdseye maple stock.

James Purdey Expands

In 1826, Purdey's success led to the need for a larger shop, and the company moved to 314 ½ Oxford Street, formerly owned by Purdey's mentor Joseph Manton. James Purdey's reputation led to patronage from some of the most famous names in English history, including Charles Darwin and Queen Victoria.

An exceptional, 1838 dated, cased panel scene engraved James Purdey 12 bore percussion double barrel shotgun.

The 1838 example above is an early Purdey percussion double barrel shotgun, and the example below is a 14 bore Purdey sporting rifle listed in Purdey's sales ledgers as sold in 1847.

This engraved 14 bore percussion sporting rifle is listed in James Purdey's sales ledgers as sold in 1847.

London's sporting arm scene was thriving, and Purdey wasn't the only rising star to get his start with Joseph Manton. Other famous artisans trained by Manton included Thomas Boss, William Greener, Charles Lancaster, and William Moore, all who went on to compete with Purdey in the shotgun market. Boss worked for James Purdey before forging out on his own, and Charles Lancaster supplied barrels for Purdey's early business.

A rare and historic, 1862 dated cased set of two engraved and gilded Charles Lancaster 8 bore percussion big game rifles ordered by the Maharaja of Jodhpur.

Purdey Shotgun Evolution

Born in 1828, Purdey's son, James the Younger, was destined to follow in his father's footsteps. By 1853, the younger Purdey collaborated with his father to invent the express double rifle, and five years later the elder Purdey retired to allow his son to assume full leadership.

This factory engraved J. Purdey underlever back action hammer double rifle in .500 Black Powder Express was completed in 1869 according to the included collection notes from Norman R. Blank.

James the Younger witnessed immense change in the firearms industry throughout his more than six-decade career. He remained at the forefront of innovation by taking out several successful patents including the Purdey thumb lever and the Purdey bolts locking system, both still used on many double guns today. Combined with the acquisition of Frederick Beesley's self-opening action and William Wem's ejector patent, Purdey was able to offer a cutting-edge design for sportsmen that has remained functionally similar since the 1880s.

This consecutive pair of factory engraved, James Purdey push forward underlever, bar-in-wood hammer shotguns was completed circa 1874.

In 1877, with his two eldest sons, James III and Athol entering the family business, James the Younger changed the company name to the now-familiar James Purdey & Sons. Six years later, Purdey moved to 57 South Audley Street, a storied site with firearms enthusiasts today that continues to serve as company headquarters.

This factory engraved J. Purdey double barrel hammer shotgun was manufactured in 1872 according to page 193 of Donald Dallas' "Purdey Gun & Rifle Makers: The Definitive History".

'The County Gentleman, Sporting Gazette and Agricultural Journal,' an 1880s title for the British publication that became 'Land & Water' magazine, summarized the London gunmaker as follows:  “Men do not go to Purdey because they want to economise;  they go to him and pay his price with the utmost cheerfulness because they are well aware that by doing so, they will have done for them all the art of smoothbore making can do.”

This factory engraved J. Purdey & Sons self-opening sidelock shotgun was completed in 1885.

Athol Purdey was next to take up the company mantle, guiding the business through the First World War and helping develop designs for single-barreled trap guns and Purdey's first over/under shotgun. Purdey supported the British war effort, and both of Athol's sons, James and Thomas, were injured during the conflict. Representing the fourth generation of the Purdey gunmaking dynasty, the two brothers would go on to join the firm and help the company shift back to sporting arms production during the Interwar period.

A factory relief engraved James Purdey & Sons self-opening sidelock double barrel shotgun with case, manufactured in 1912.

Purdey Shotguns Today

In the 1920s, Athol Purdey commissioned his factory manager, Ernest Lawrence, to develop an over/under shotgun for the company. Purdey's "Sextuple Bite" over/under action was costly to produce, and by the outbreak of WW2 only 27 had been sold.

This Master Philippe Grifnee signed, engraved, and gold inlaid J. Purdey & Sons self opening sidelock double barrel shotgun three barrel set with case was originally completed in 1923.

The war had devastated the British economy, and sporting arm producer James Woodward & Sons had been hit particularly hard. In 1948, Charles Woodward, grandson of company founder James Woodward, approached Thomas Purdey to explore the possibility of Purdey acquiring his floundering company. Needing a new over/under action, Thomas eventually obliged.

A scarce factory Casbard engraved James Purdey & Sons single barrel trap shotgun with case.

After a few modifications from Harry Lawrence and his younger brother, Ernest Jr., the Purdey Over and Under was born. The model has remained in production ever since, with the consecutive trio of small bore Purdey over/under shotguns offered by Rock Island Auction Company this May representing the pinnacle of one of Purdey's most popular shotgun designs and is a true rarity in the genre of elite sporting arms.

An attractive pair of factory P. Chung signed and engraved J. Purdey & Sons sidelock over/under shotguns.

In 2014, Purdey celebrated its bicentennial. As one of Britain’s oldest and most revered heritage brands and the sole London gunmaker with three Royal Warrants of appointment to the British royal family, the legacy of James Purdey & Sons is unrivaled. When it comes to blending old-world craftsmanship with modern innovation, Purdey shotguns and double guns remain the epitome of extravagance for today's sportsmen, shooters, and collectors.

This extraordinary shotgun was commissioned by astute collector Norman R. Blank from the world renowned gunmakers at Purdey and represents an outstanding blend of arms and artistry.

Purdey Shotgun Prices and Values

Gun prices have experienced a remarkable uptrend in recent years, including the luxury sporting arms market. Both classic and modern Purdey shotguns are prized for their rarity, artistry, condition, and provenance, with high-end examples sold by Rock Island Auction Company testifying to the prestige and investment value of these exceptional objects.

An S. Coggan engraved Purdey & Sons .410 bore sidelock shotgun sold in RIAC's December 2023 Premier Auction for an impressive $235,000.

With only 30 to 50 individual orders taken by Purdey each year and a production time upwards of 12 months for a highly personalized shotgun, collectors willing to set aside customization can obtain a top-tier, heirloom quality Purdey at auction without the wait.

Purdey Shotgun Quality

Purdey shotguns are the definition of bespoke. Each piece is custom-tailored at every level, from barrel making, actioning, stocking, finishing, fitting, and Purdey's world-renowned engraving. Thanks to the company's exclusive lineup of hard-metal engravers, Purdey shotguns and double rifles display some of the finest artistry of any luxury collectible.

A factory engraved J. Purdey & Sons back action hammer double rifle in 450 Black Powder express completed in 1883. The engraving is exceptional and likely done by Mr. Lucus, Purdey's longest serving engraver, who developed this style in 1870.

The matching pair of Purdey shotguns pictured below are fitted with a stunning exhibition quality deep relief engraving. The stocks of each gun are of the same exceptional quality and feature teardrop carved drop points, "RML" inlaid in gold directly into the wood behind the lower tang, and brushed bright and engraved heel and toe plates above and below the checkered bare butt. When it comes to a marriage of artistry and engineering, this example demonstrates Purdey's marquee quality in every detail of their trade.

A stunning pair of Master Philippe Grifnee signed, deep relief game scene engraved, and gold inlaid pair of J. Purdey & Sons 20 gauge hand detachable sidelock over/under shotguns.

No two individual Purdeys are exactly alike, and these exceptional shotguns are truly a tour de force in the field of pinnacle shotgun making. Both guns display a trio of relief game scenes set directly over the scrollwork from world renowned Master Engraver Philippe Grifnee, one of the most highly sought after engravers of the late 20th and early 21st centuries and one of the finest to ever put a graver to steel.

This exceptional Purdey pair represents hand-made English craftsmanship at its finest.

Purdey Shotguns for Sale and More

Purdey is more than a luxury shotgun maker; they're an international icon. From hand-laid, deep-finished walnut to intricate engraved scrolling, Purdey sets the standard. Each gun forged from the workbenches of Purdey is a masterpiece every sportsman aspires to own, and you can find the finest Purdey shotguns for sale at Rock Island Auction Company.

A factory engraved J. Purdey & Sons Jones underlever self-opening non-ejector sidelock double rifle in .450 Black Powder Express.

From benchmark condition examples to pieces marked by a lifetime in the field, Rock Island Auction Company's May 2-4 Premier Firearms Auction offers an immense selection of classic and modern sporting arms. If you're looking for a bounty of master engraving, inlaid precious metals, handsome wood grain, and sought-after special features, May's auction is a can't miss event for hunters and collectors of every aspiration.

An exquisite factory engraved Boss & Co. sidelock over/under shotgun.

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An incredibly rare factory engraved Hunter Arms Co./L. C. Smith 20 gauge Monogram Grade "FWOT" double barrel shotgun with monogram steel barrels.