James Purdey & Sons: Gun & Rifle Makers: Two Hundred Years of Excellence - Hardcover
Synopsis
This magnificent book, recently updated, details the history of James Purdey & Sons, the British gunmaker universally respected and known the world over as makers of the finest quality guns. The author includes several appendices including serial numbers to assist with dating guns, as well as production figures to show the rarity of each. All patents are described, plus the Purdey gunmakers named to help identify initials stamped on the parts. Illustrated with color plates and black & white plates and drawings throughout.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review
Meticulous historian and brilliant contributor Donald Dallas has brought his admirable skills to this second edition celebrating Purdey's 200 years of gunmaking from 1814 to the present day. After the first edition was published this incorrigible historian continued to research the greatest name in gunmaking, and so he was asked to produce this second edition to help celebrate the company's amazing two centuries in the business. --Shooting Gazette
This magnificent book, recently updated, details the 200-year history of English gunmakers James Purdey & Sons and contains several appendices including serial numbers to assist with dating guns, as well as production figures to show the rarity of each. All of Purdey's world-famous patents are described, plus the Purdey gunmakers are named to help gun owners to identify initials stamped on parts. Comprehensively illustrated throughout, this coffee table book is a must for all gun collectors. --Fieldsports
James Purdey & Sons: Two Hundred Years of Excellence has been meticulously re-researched, revised and enlarged, and published in a larger format to carry more photographs and illustrations, many of them previously unpublished. I hope you enjoy reading this book, which relates so much fascinating history of the life and times of the Purdey gunmaking family, as well as the Beaumonts, who were at the helm for almost 50 years following World War II. And finally it brings us up to the present day, with James Purdey & Sons standing on the threshold of its third century as one of the worlds greatest sporting gunmakers. --Beverly Drive Magazine
As with all Quiller books, build quality is excellent and the black ribbon bookmark is a nice detail. The colour photographs are bright and the line drawings are crisp. This book would make a wonderful Christmas present for any Purdey owner or anyone who loves fine English guns. I can think of nothing better than coming home after the Boxing Day shoot and immersing myself among images of guns that I covet but will never be able to afford. Still, we all crave the opium of our dreams and Donald's new book is full of them. - Shooting Times
One of the book's most interesting features is the details of individual Purdey craftsmen and their initials that are found stamped on the guns made. Social convention consigned these talented men to oblivion until the author combed the wage books and brought their names to life. There are numerous photos of them both in the factory and at leisure on works outings...This fantastic book makes a definitive contribution to that canon of gunmaking history. Highly recommended. --Classic Arms and Militaria
Next year (2014) sees the centenary of Britain's most famous gunmaker, James Purdey and Sons. To celebrate the occasion Donald Dallas has written a revised edition of his 200 work, Purdey the Definitive History. Donald is a history teacher, so it comes as no surprise that his work is meticulously researched, beautifully written and presented in an easily comprehensible form. But he goes beyond the mere chronicling of gunmakers' lives and works. Donald's passion for his subject and his love of fine guns is apparent in everything he writes. And this is very much more than a revised edition of his earlier work. Donald has continued to research Purdey and gather new material. Consequently, the new work is much expanded and effectively a new book with several new appendices including a copy of a rare 1885 Purdey catalogue. I can think of nothing better than coming home after the shoot and immersing myself among images of fine guns that I covet but will never afford. Still, we all crave the opium of our dreams and Donald's new book is full of them. --BASC Shooting and Conservation
As with all Quiller books, build quality is excellent and the black ribbon bookmark is a nice detail. The colour photographs are bright and the line drawings are crisp. This book would make a wonderful Christmas present for any Purdey owner or anyone who loves fine English guns. I can think of nothing better than coming home after the Boxing Day shoot and immersing myself among images of guns that I covet but will never be able to afford. Still, we all crave the opium of our dreams and Donald's new book is full of them. - Shooting Times
One of the book's most interesting features is the details of individual Purdey craftsmen and their initials that are found stamped on the guns made. Social convention consigned these talented men to oblivion until the author combed the wage books and brought their names to life. There are numerous photos of them both in the factory and at leisure on works outings...This fantastic book makes a definitive contribution to that canon of gunmaking history. Highly recommended. --Classic Arms and Militaria
About the Author
Donald Dallas, a graduate of the London School of Economics is, by profession, a teacher of history. His particular interest has always been the history of the sporting gun and following the success of his first book, 'Boss & Co. Builders of Best Guns Only' he was asked by James Purdey & Sons to research a similar history for them, resulting in 'Purdey, Gun and Rifle Makers, The Definitive History'. After the first edition was published, Donald continued to research Purdey and gather new material; subsequently the firm asked him to produce this second edition to celebrate their two hundred years as gunmakers.
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- PublisherQuiller Publishing Ltd
- Publication date2013
- ISBN 10 1846891647
- ISBN 13 9781846891649
- BindingHardcover
- LanguageEnglish
- Number of pages472
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JAMES PURDEY AND SONS: GUN AND RIFLE MAKERS.TWO HUNDRED YEARS OF EXCELLENCE. By Donald Dallas.
Published by
Quiller. Wykey, Shropshire. 2013, 2013
ISBN 10: 1846891647
ISBN 13: 9781846891649
New
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Coch-y-Bonddu Books Ltd, MACHYNLLETH, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: new. ALL UK PARCELS SENT TRACKED! ALL OVERSEAS PARCELS SENT AIRMAIL, TRACKED! (S/hand, Hardcover, 2013). 2013 1st edition. Large 4to (260 x 315mm). Pp472. Colour photographs throughout, bibliography, patterned endpapers. Black boards, titled in gilt on spine. Very good copy in dust-wrapper with slight signs of use. This is Donald Dallas's eighth book investigating the history of British gunmakers. "This magnificent book, .details the history of James Purdey & Sons, the British gunmaker universally respected and known the world over as makers of the finest quality guns. The author includes several appendices including serial numbers to assist with dating guns, as well as production figures to show the rarity of each. All patents are described, plus the Purdey gunmakers named to help identify initials stamped on the parts." Appendices give serial numbers and production figures. Foreword by the Duke of Edinburgh. A fine work, eagerly anticipated. Although based on the earlier book, "Purdey: gun and rifle makers. the definitive history." (2000), this is a completely rewritten and newly illustrated new book. . Seller Inventory # 60347
Quantity: 1 available
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James Purdey Sons Gun and Rifle Makers: Two Hundred Years of Excellence
Published by
Quiller Publishing Ltd., 2013
ISBN 10: 1846891647
ISBN 13: 9781846891649
Used
Hardcover
Seller: Grumpys Fine Books, Tijeras, NM, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: very good. little wear and tear. Seller Inventory # Grumpy1846891647
Quantity: 1 available
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JAMES PURDEY AND SONS: GUN AND RIFLE MAKERS.TWO HUNDRED YEARS OF EXCELLENCE. By Donald Dallas. First edition - de luxe leather-bound issue.
Published by
Quiller. Wykey, Shropshire. 2013, 2013
ISBN 10: 1846891647
ISBN 13: 9781846891649
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Signed
Seller: Coch-y-Bonddu Books Ltd, MACHYNLLETH, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
ALL UK PARCELS SENT TRACKED! ALL OVERSEAS PARCELS SENT AIRMAIL, TRACKED! (S/hand, Hardcover, 2013). 2013 1st edition - de luxe issue of only 200 signed & numbered leather-bound copies. Large 4to (260 x 315mm). Pp472. Colour photographs throughout, bibliography, pictorial endpapers, silk marker. Full black leather, spine & upper board panel titled in gilt, raised bands, all edges gilt, silk marker. Presented in a handsome maroon cloth book-box, lined in watered silk. Fine copy in clam-shell book-box. Limitation page numbered & signed by Donald Dallas and Purdey directors Richard Purdey and Nigel Beaumont. A fine leather-bound edition of Donald Dallas's eighth book investigating the history of British gunmakers. . Seller Inventory # 56631
Quantity: 1 available
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JAMES PURDEY & SONS GUN AND RIFLE MAKERS: TWO HUNDRED YEARS OF EXCELLENCE
Published by
Quiller Publishing Ltd., 2013
ISBN 10: 1846891647
ISBN 13: 9781846891649
Used
Hardcover
Signed
Seller: BSG BOOKS, Covington, LA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: As New. #4 OF A SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION OF ONLY 200 COPIES. BOUND IN FULL BLACK GOATSKIN LEATHER WITH GOLD STAMPING, FIVE RAISED BANDS ON THE SPINE, AND A LEATHER JAMES PURDEY & SONS, GUN & RIFLE MAKERS LABEL INSET INTO THE FRONT COVER, A SILK MARKING RIBBON, GILT EDGED PAGES, AND FANCY END PAPERS. THE BOOK IS HOUSED IN A STURDY MAROON CLOTH CLAMSHELL STYE BOX, ALSO WITH THE PURDEY LEATHER LABEL INSET IN THE FRONT. THE BOX IS LINED WITH SILK MOIRE. THE BOOK IS NUMBERED AND SIGNED ON A SPECIAL LIMITATION PAGE. IT IS SIGNED BY AUTHOR DONALD DALLAS, PURDEY DIRECTOR, C.J.R. PURDEY, AND PURDEY CHAIRMAN NIGEL C.V. BEAUMONT. 472 pages. Huge volume. The Clamshell Box is 11" x 13", and the 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. Purdey; 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 Younger, 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 hammerless 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 others to follow. The author has produced several appendices of great interest to the Purday owner and collector. 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 gunmakers, names to help identify initials stamped on the various parts of Purdey guns. The Second Edition celebrates Purdey's two hundred years of gunmaking from 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. Both the Book and the Clamshell Box are in Very Fine As New condition. An opportunity to own a Very Scarce limited edition at a reasonable price. Signed by Author. Seller Inventory # 6326
Quantity: 1 available
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James Purdey Sons Gun and Rifle Makers: Two Hundred Years of Excellence
Seller: Grumpys Fine Books, Tijeras, NM, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: new. Prompt service guaranteed. Seller Inventory # Clean1846891647
Quantity: 1 available