Vintage Shotgun Restoration Site

1879 Purdey Bar-in-wood

Tony — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:27:30 +0000

I’ve been racking my brain over whether to do this or not. In the end. I saw it as an investment and worthy heirloom for my son. It’s going to be restocked, repicked, the works. Quite a rare and nice thing. Early original Witworth Steel barrels too and 28-31 tho. So amazing really. Had to be got.

WC Parsons

Tony — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:16:45 +0000

Hi folks, I’ve been after a large bore muzzle loader for a while. A friend bought this over, not his, a private sale though and I got it for what I consider a very reasonable price. It is only single barrel and not from a well known maker. Basically as far as I can see a barrel maker from Brum who retailed the odd gun. I think almost certainly made in Birmingham. Anyway, I like it. Just going to tidy it up remove rust and re do the stock because it’s a bit horrid.

Proof House Visit

Tony — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:35:23 +0000

I was barely well enough to go there. But I managed to for just a morning. I had been invited for the work I had done for saving the gun quarter name and history and the petition website and so on. Bill Harding showed me and my friend (and his wife) and another chap around and it was an amazing visit. Here are some photos:

Purdey Case Restored

Tony — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:16:25 +0000

It took my to find an original Purdey case with a 314 1/2 label in it but I did in the end. I’ve had my friend restore the label and the inside. Just need to get straps for it and it’s done. The gun looks really nice, and complete, in it’s new case.

John Blanch Completed

Tony — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 19:57:11 +0000

After months of on and off preparation of the stock this gun is finally completed. I’ve left the original checkering in place because it was pretty good. Removal of the wooden extension was a priority for me. It’s the first time I’ve used buffalo horn and a friend helped me shape it and put it on the stock. It’s come out pretty well if not perfect. The gun is beautiful, the engraving is really pretty and the barrels have come up quite well after they had clearly been blacked for many years…lovely damascus underneath. I hope to shoot it at my next shoot and definately this season! In original box with a trade label, original, but extremely difficult to find!

New Worm End for Pape

Tony — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 12:14:33 +0000

Hi, I acquired another old Muzzle Loading Pape last week, online, at Holts. It’s to go with my other one as I’ve been offered a days ML shooting in January. A friend is loading me, very exciting. I’m getting used to my little lathe now and I’m quite please with this, took me ages, being a n00b at lathe work!

1873 Purdey Completed

Tony — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 14:36:24 +0000

The Purdey is done. This 1873 beauty has had the barrels re-proved and re-chambered to 2 3/4. In the past she hasn’t been looked after and I’ve tried to do a sympathetic restoration on this gun. I’ve got to shoot it soon. It will be left to my son and I hope his in turn. Here are some pictures.

Purdey – restocked

Tony — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 23:23:33 +0000

Really nice piece of wood on this. Some pictures…lot’s of stuff still to do on this old 1873 darling.

John Blanch – Lock cleaning

Tony — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 18:37:21 +0000

When you see how much effort has gone into producing these locks one can appreciate the time it took to create them by hand. In particular the inelt for the intercepting sear is very fine work (some might say over-engineered). I’ve given everything a clean with oil and a very (I mean VERY) light clean up with light wire wool and oil. The engraving is lovely under there. Not one for CCH for sure. The stock is coming together and the barrels are done. Just need to clean up the rest of it…I have a couple of weeks though because the stock will be that long still.

Protected: Hembury Castle Shoot

Tony — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 10:34:37 +0000