In the late 80’s, I wandered into the Purdey Gun establishment in London. If you are thinking ostentatious offices and sales rooms, guess again. Everything was old, quaint and library-quiet. Some Circassian walnut had recently been delivered and a bundle of very crude blocks (for stocks) was lying just inside the front door in a loose heap. The few coats and odds and ends of gear were in a very plain, smallish, bare bones room just off the main "lobby".

"In the late 80s, I wandered into the Purdey Gun establishment in London. If you are thinking ostentatious offices and sales rooms, guess again."A gent asked if he could help me and when I said I just wanted to look around, I was told to make myself at home. I shortly wandered into a room with a very long table covered with green, woolen, billiard table fabric. The walls were hung with old Purdey double guns and photographs. It was a marvelous room to browse. I was looking at a gun made for Queen Victoria when an elderly man in a full shop apron walked in. He was startled to see me and asked what I was doing there. He told me very politely that this room was not open to the public and I should not have been there. We chatted a while and he actually brought in a gun he was building to show me. The gun when finished would be one of a matched pair -- the pair, in their fitted case, would cost the new owner over $100K after they were engraved and ready for delivery. At that time the wait was about two to three years from the date ordered to delivery -- the final price would be determined at the latter date. Yes, Jack, I did feel like the proverbial delivery boy, even with my new necktie and tweed sport coat. Funny thing though, more than the beauty of the gun, I remember the quiet pride with which that old man showed me his work.

Ed Laine ©2007

| 2007.01.23 |