Sporting Classics Digital

.470 Express cartridge. As is befitting its heritage, it's engraved in scroll and floral designs with deeply chiseled sculpturing on the shoulders of the action, which are complimented by antique vignettes of Indian big game animals inlayed in gold. The side-by-side shotgun is also built on the venerable Beesley action and is decorated in the style of Harry Kell, the most significant engraver of his time, who is credited with achieving great advances in the realistic portrayal of birds and animals. Kell did a tremendous amount of work for Purdey during his lifetime, and the collaboration was a happy one for both parties. describe the more powerful cartridges that were being developed for dangerous game in Africa and India. James the elder died in November of 1863 and James the younger ran the company until he died in 1909. In 1880 Purdey purchased the rights to the Beesley hammerless system from a former employee, Frederick Beesley. The firm still uses that system in their superlative side-by-side shotguns, which are the mainstay of the Purdey line. In 1948 they purchased the Woodward firm, thereby acquiring the rights to one of the finest over/ unders of its time, a design that, in an evolved form, is still in use. If we skip forward over another half-century, we find that Purdey is still at the forefront in developing and producing some of the finest sporting guns in the world. Today's Purdey shop features the most advanced, precise, computer- controlled equipment, and continues to push the boundaries of gunmaking with new technology, techniques and materials. One of Purdey's latest innovations is the use of "Damasteel," a newer, tougher iteration of Damascus steel. A ll of this simply lends context to this year's celebration of Purdey's Bicentenary, and illustrates the remarkable longevity of the London firm whose dedication to innovation and absolute quality was, and is, unexcelled in the field of gunmaking. Naturally, the folks at Purdey are quite proud of their history, and in commemoration of the milestone, they've created a number of new products, including clothing and accessories. They've also completed a magnificent trio – a rifle and two shotguns – to celebrate the event. Their new rifle is a side-by-side double "express" built on the Beesley action with side clips and a third grip and chambered for the legendary S P O R T I N G C L A S S I C S 2 2 urdey's new Damasteel over-and-under combines great strength with the classic beauty of Damascus steel. P Purdey's long association with the master engraver is certainly an important part of its history and Kell's unique style is exceedingly well represented on this gun. The third gun is perhaps the most interesting of all. It's an over/under built on the Woodward pattern, but it combines the very oldest elements of Purdey's heritage in that it is made completely of Damascus steel, unadorned by any trace of engraving save the maker's name inlayed in gold. What makes the gun so interesting is that the "Damascus"

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