; thus, giving me that much wanted time to put together the prose and the photographs. If you find what follows is dull and tedious, mind you my dear readers, it is you who were exceedingly generous with your praise of one such previous exercise of mine in the past that should be held responsible.Last time yours truly visited Holland and Holland and Beretta of London. Inspired by what I have seen and goaded by the cheers of fellow gun lovers, I decided to visit a few more illustrious names of London gun rooms. As I expressed my intentions to my good friend the fair dame Ms Nana, the queen of the sovereign republic state of Georgia (never ever make the mistake of revealing your ignorance of her country if you love your life. Remember what Rudyard Kipling said about the female of the species being …..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_%28country%29), she decided that she was also coming. Miss Nana, BTW, is not a gun person and she never shot a gun in her life. Yes, she does not like hunting.
Well, we packed our rucksacks and jumped into the bus to London. Though I have noted down the addresses of the gun makers we were to visit, I did not plan our way to them. The result, we were seen loitering aimlessly near Westminster Abbey , far away from our destination, for a long time while well meaning Bobbies sent us in circles that meant to take us to South Audley Street.
A bunch of them, looking much taller in their picklehaubesque helmets, would gather around us, scratch their chins rigorously, confabulate among themselves and point in four different directions with each asserting that South Audley Street in deed was at walking distance.
On our way, we found this gentleman decked up in full martial regalia, and astride his charger, looking down at us in open disdain. Ms Nana shook an angry fist at him.
After legging it for long, we finally found our way to South Audley Street and jumped into the tube.
As we started getting closer to one of the finest gun makers in the world, (this description was hotly contested later), Purdey’s, my heart, despite my previous experience at H&H, started thumping with that familiar commixture of anticipation and trepidation. Both of us stood near the building and took the view in for a few minutes.
Ms Nana improving the look of Audley House in the background
Purdey’s entrance.
As we pressed the bell, a nattily dressed gentleman stepped out to receive us with a friendly smile and with a marked Spanish accent. He took us inside the tastefully decorated antechamber while I explained to him that we came to see the “guns”. “Of course, sir”, he said and asked us to feel free to run amuck. There was more staff to be seen at Purdey’s than at H&H, in fact than anywhere else I have been. Perhaps, an indication of the prosperity of their business?
As we stepped into the gun room, we both paused and took an astonished gasp at the spectacle that beckoned us, spectacularly beautiful guns, results of harmonious orchestrations of supremely skilled artisans, resting in their glass cages and waiting to be taken afield.
As I lost a few pictures last time due to my ineptitude, I requested Nana to be the in charge of photography. . However, the subdued lighting and the glass enclosures made it extremely difficult for us to take pictures of good quality. The flash used at close quarters either burned the engraving or the glass would reflect the light. Still, as you will see, she took some great pics despite the challenging lighting conditions.
Here goes the torture trip or visual feast or both
You can see us in the reflections struggling to capture the best possible angle.
As I slowly moved about, taking in each gun and its details, Mr M, who till then was waiting in the shadows, emerged with a small cough betraying his presence. Ladies and Gentlemen, he is an encyclopaedia of the history of firearms, especially of Purdey’s. He at once began to explain, in pukka clipped English, the evolution of shotgun actions, from flintlocks to scentbottle actions, Purdey Senior’s role, then taking over of the business by his more astute son etc.
A Purdey in white.Strange,isn't it?
Honestly, as I examined the Purdey guns, even with my novice’s eye, I felt that their finish was slightly better than the H&Hs while only priced at 1/2 - 2/3 of H&Hs. When I expressed my thoughts to Mr M, he, with hackles raised and in a tone filled with equal amounts of pride, disdain and conviction, expostulated that “ If there is one stone that completes the pyramid of fine gun makers, Purdey is that key stone. Not H&H. Perhaps Boss might come in second. No, not H&H”. Would you argue with him? I wouldn’t argue with this knowledgeable albeit slightly intimidating man.
In earnest conversation with Mr M
History records -
While I was being introduced to firearms history, Ms Nana was busy taking pictures, of not just guns. Jewellery, cutlery, cute wooden animals and birds…I would let the pics speak. Women…
BTW,did you notice the price tags?
The book section at Purdey's
Save this picture and magnify it to read it. You will be treated to a passage in English shooting history. Purely accidental, of course.
The knives and forks you see are made of Damascus steel. The listed prices speak for themselves. Now, these fine Damascus artefacts are not made in Britain. They are made in India for Purdey’s for probably 1/20th of their listed price. That is Globalisation for you.
When I asked Mr M of Purdey’s plans to bring out the Woodward marque, he was quick to point out that the Purdey O/Us are essentially built on Woodward actions and if customers insist on a Woodward name, they would get it. But, there aren’t any being made at the moment.
If you are wondering what this strange bird perched atop that looks like the product of a ménage of buzzard, Turkey and a pheasant, it’s an Auerhahn or Capercaillie or Giant Mountain Grouse from Germany. A bird of mythical stature and very challenging to shoot they say.
http://www.biologydaily.com/biology/Capercaillie
Various African game mounted on the walls
As were about to leave, this beautiful gun was brought for inspection by Mr M. He put on his magnifying monocle, intently examined the engraving on the gun, tried mounting it to his shoulder a few times and then nodded his approval saying that “Young …. Seem to be doing quite a good job”.
As we thanked Mr M and began to leave, with a catalogue in hand, the friendly Spanish gentleman reappeared and escorted us to the door with a cheerful smile and inviting us for another visit soon.
Purdey has adopted a very modern approach to marketing their brand and that is markedly visible in their nice treatment of visitors like us who do not form their customer base but would no doubt spread the good word, which is not bad at all for business.
As we stepped out of the hallowed portals, a couple, evidently American, in their forties smiled at us and walked past us in.
Very near to Purdey, no more than a couple of hundred yards, is Boss. Still reeling under the assault on our visual senses, we entered Boss’s. Unlike Purdey’s, the Boss gunroom is almost a one man operation. Mr Roy Liu was busy talking to a pair of customers who were there to try their gun and order one more. With the two gentlemen in suits, there was a young boy of about 10 years. The father was speaking of taking him to Argentina and having a gun built for him one day etc.
Once he freed himself for a moment, he smiled at as and asked us to feel free to walk about, pick and handle the guns we liked etc. Can you believe it? Yes, he did.
It was a visual feast to look at those celebration of gunmaking.
A beautifully engraved Watson Brothers'
Of all the guns there, one beautifully elegant little gun caught our attention. A Boss 20 bore. What a delightful gun that was. Very fine walnut, superb engraving, perfectly balanced and sheer pleasure to behold and shoulder. Legend goes that, King George supposedly had said “A Boss gun, a Boss gun, bloody beautiful, but too bloody expensive!” Today, the price tag may not be the thing that sets it apart, for H&H, Purdey and others may have similar or even weightier ones. But, in terms of quality, they are right up there. This gun is worth every word of such accolades.
I could not bring my self to comit the sin of posing with such a beauty in my beastly hands and promptly passed on the honours to Ms Nana.
Look at the quality of wood to metal finish, the quality of the deep lustrous bluing and the very detailed engraving.
Suddenly, Ms Nana gave a small shriek and grabbed my hand. I turned my head and promptly set the new world record for standing high-jump that would put many a Masai warrior to shame.
There, next to Roy’s desk, was crouching a beautiful leopard. 
A pair of duelling pistols.
Artefacts at Boss
Check the range of cartridges in the box
Once the customers left, Roy, a naturally friendly and warm person, came to us to enquire if he could help us with anything. I asked him of how they regulate their O/U double rifles and he patiently explained how by moving a wedge up and down the barrels they regulate them. When asked of the J Robertson range of the guns, he was candid and did not try to conceal anything. He told me that these guns are made by Merkel in Germany, brought in white to England and are finished in Birmingham to Boss’ specifications. For their price and Boss quality, it only sounded fair to me.
When we took leave of him, Roy again very kindly offered his help should I need any help on Boss’ history, their guns etc. This is a genuinely nice man folks. Again, as we stepped out, in walked the same American couple smiling broadly at us.
Right next door to them is William and Son. These folks are not limited to guns that only make a part of their business. When I expressed of my desire to see the gun room, Mr Paul West, the Master gunsmith, came out and took us both to the gun room that was set in the cellar. Mr West, a tall friendly man, immediately won over Ms Nana’s approval, as she found Purdey’s a tad stuffy, as the best gun person she met that day. Mr West did not pretend to be they were H&H or Purdey or Boss. But, he was also proud of the fact that they build very fine guns which was reflected in the quality of the guns. They also had a nice selection from other illustrious British gun makers of present and yore. The range was not entirely composed of best guns, but of also the middle range, but no way plebeian, guns.
Mr West took me into his gun making room and showed me the gun making tools he uses, various guns in various stages of making etc. There was a nice .375 double rifle, the only double rifle that I saw that day, in the making. Looking at the guns still in the process of being built, you realise the kind of human skill that it takes in metamorphosing the lifeless hunks of wood and metal into distinctly individual artistic creations. He also explained me a few things about gun fitting and why it is important. He made me mount a gun to my shoulder a few times and explained a few nuances.
Yours truly with a 30/06 bolt rifle
Mr Paul West and me
Yours beastly with a .243 Sako
BTW, the Sako bolt is infinitely smoother to operate than the Mouser.
As we were about to climb the steps of the gunroom, the American couple came in. This time we laughed aloud and introduced ourselves. The moment they spoke, I knew them they were from Texas. Very friendly and on their very own pilgrimage to London gunrooms. We spoke for sometime about guns and hunting. The moment I told them that I was from India, their eyes lit up and enquired me of the kind of animals and hunting we have etc. The lady seemed to be very knowledgeable of guns, shooting and fauna too. The challenge of stalking wild boar afoot seemed to fascinate her greatly.
At every gunmaker we visited that day, a great percentage of the new guns and the guns in making were in 20 bore and many O/Us. The light 20 bores are the rage of the season, so I am told, especially in the driven hunts where you shoot a lot and carry your gun for longer periods.
When we came out, we were physically and mentally exhausted but very satisfied. We collapsed on a bench in the Berkley square park and promptly fell asleep for an hour or so. The park was filled with people like us.
Ms Nana, who was not hostile but indifferent to guns, found out why I am so mad about them. She found them to be no less than superbly made objet d’arts and the people associated with them to be the same nice ordinary people, if supremely gifted in making the finest firearms, that you meet everyday. She declared her desire to enrol in a gun club, which are evidently aplenty in her home country where she is now, and start learning shooting. She is still not very fond of hunting and that is fine by me. To each his/her own. One more convert to the faith. There is a place for everyone on this earth, and, for gun lovers like us, there is an endless space for fine guns in our hearts.
I dearly hope that you found this lengthy rambling only slightly boring .Thanks for stopping by and reading this.
Best regards-
Ms Nana and Vikram
PS: The camera is a Panasonic Lumix FZ-20
