PURDEY: GUN AND RIFLE MAKERS. THE DEFINITIVE HISTORY. By Donald Dallas.

(2000) 2004 reprint. Large 4to (234 x 306mm). Ppviii,245. Colour plates, b/w photographs, illustrations, bibliography. Black boards, spine titled in gilt.

The definitive history and reference book on the Purdey firm. Out of print and highly sought-after. Chapters include: Blacksmith in the Minories; 'A small shop in Princes Street'; 314 1/2 Oxford Street; Muzzle-loading guns, rifles and pistols; Bolt and Beesley; Early breech-loading guns and rifles; 'A palace amongst gun manufacturies'; Boom, bust and belligerence; The Purdey way; Later breech-loading guns and rifles. Appendices give a wide-variety of information such as: The Purdey family tree; Diary of events in Purdey history; Purdey serial numbers and dating; Woodward serial numbers and dating; Early breech-loading gun and rifle producion 1857-79; Breech-loading gun and rifle production 1880-2000; Analysis of gun demand 1816-2000; Purdey gunmakers; James Purdey and Sons patents; Tom Purdey's notebook 1921; Purdey masters of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers.