Danger-Mouse Posted April 29, 2016 Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 A few weeks ago we had a guy turn up at the shoot to do one of those Groupon deals. I was chatting with him, asking him what, if any, experience he had with shotguns and he said he`d shot a couple of times but not often. And then he drops the bombshell that he makes barrels for Purdey shotguns! Obviously this sparked my interest and we had a bit of a chat inbetween his shooting. Specifically he made the barrels for the Damascus guns but he only forged them, he didn`t do any engraving or anything else. What surprised me the most was what he was paid. Purdey supplied all his materials and then he said he was paid £200 per set of barrels. I`ve no idea how long the process takes so I don`t really know if that`s a good rate or not. But it does make you wonder what the materials and craftsmanship on a Purdey actually cost? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted April 29, 2016 Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 £200 to make a set of Damascus barrels? - I would add another zero on the end of that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danger-Mouse Posted April 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 £200 to make a set of Damascus barrels? - I would add another zero on the end of that Well I thought it sounded a bit cheap. But I had no reason to doubt anything he said. His wife was with him and not in a position to overhear us talking. When I said to her "Your husband was just telling me what he does" she instantly replied that he worked for Purdey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaunda Posted April 29, 2016 Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 I think he was lifting your leg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted April 29, 2016 Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 He will not be working for them for long at £200 for a set of Damascus barrels - I would think that the energy costs alone would come close to that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danger-Mouse Posted April 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 I think he was lifting your leg. I don`t think so. See the post above yours. If it was a windup it was very well planned. He will not be working for them for long at £200 for a set of Damascus barrels - I would think that the energy costs alone would come close to that. Maybe I misheard him, I did have earplugs in at the time lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpowder Posted April 29, 2016 Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 I would love to see see a video of that process, how he does it for that price. Blackpowder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panoma1 Posted April 29, 2016 Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 I doubt there is anyone around now that has the equipment, skill or know how to make Damascus barrels? Certainly I have never heard of any current maker of guns offering Damascus barrels as an option? Truth to tell, I would doubt that Purdey has made a Damascus barrelled gun for over 75 years! Just my opinion and I would be perfectly happy to apologise if I'm wrong! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougall Posted April 29, 2016 Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 Purdey made a very few double centenary(think it was) damascus barrelled guns,am pretty sure were made in europe and then finished in their workshops...did the factory tour about 10 years ago and fyi a s/s best gun is about 800 hours work,and the barrels were at least 100 hours of that.......so for a skilled barrelmaker would think they can charge bit more than £2 per hour...!!...Purdey sold the damascus guns AT A LOSS because the barrels were SO expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panoma1 Posted April 29, 2016 Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 Purdey made a very few double centenary(think it was) damascus barrelled guns,am pretty sure were made in europe and then finished in their workshops...did the factory tour about 10 years ago and fyi a s/s best gun is about 800 hours work,and the barrels were at least 100 hours of that.......so for a skilled barrelmaker would think they can charge bit more than £2 per hour...!!...Purdey sold the damascus guns AT A LOSS because the barrels were SO expensive. You can apparantly still get Damascus barrel castings/tubes.......I think they were made in Belgium? But I also think these barrels are old stock that were made many years ago?...........the process of making Damascus barrels was very long drawn out, skilled and labour intensive, I would be interested to know how someone could make em for £200!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougall Posted April 29, 2016 Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 You can apparantly still get Damascus barrel castings/tubes.......I think they were made in Belgium? But I also think these barrels are old stock that were made many years ago?...........the process of making Damascus barrels was very long drawn out, skilled and labour intensive, I would be interested to know how someone could make em for £200!!!! if they did I sure would'nt want to shoot through 'em!......top set of struck up hand made barrels are £10,000+ in Damascus would guess at least double the work....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted April 29, 2016 Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 Sure it's not Damascus barrels like we think of twisted and forged. But rather Damasteel a powdered steel forged under intense pressure and heat. I watched a video clip on how the gun was made and it was clearly stated that it's manufactured elsewhere and assembled and finished by Purdy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted April 29, 2016 Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 hello, from when i use to go to the early game fairs 1960/70s and chat to a few gunmakers/ engravers/barrel makers including purdeys i would think a pair/set now £2,000 plus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danger-Mouse Posted April 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 Sure it's not Damascus barrels like we think of twisted and forged. But rather Damasteel a powdered steel forged under intense pressure and heat. I watched a video clip on how the gun was made and it was clearly stated that it's manufactured elsewhere and assembled and finished by Purdy. Just watched a video on how they`re built. Perhaps the guy I talked to machined the barrels before they were passed on to the barrel maker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJsDad Posted April 30, 2016 Report Share Posted April 30, 2016 If the guy was from Sheffield he is probably telling you the truth. If you have a look at the Purdey website; in particular the article about their damascus gun, they state that the material is as suggested by figgy, a powdered steel process where the material is manufactured and twisted in Sweden but forged in Sheffield. As the forging is only the first part of the process towards a pair of barrels and probably doesnt involve any boring out or external machining the figure of £200 starts to look more realistic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danger-Mouse Posted April 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2016 If the guy was from Sheffield he is probably telling you the truth. If you have a look at the Purdey website; in particular the article about their damascus gun, they state that the material is as suggested by figgy, a powdered steel process where the material is manufactured and twisted in Sweden but forged in Sheffield. As the forging is only the first part of the process towards a pair of barrels and probably doesnt involve any boring out or external machining the figure of £200 starts to look more realistic. Cheers. He was definitely from Sheffield. I obviously misinterpreted what he meant when he said he made the barrels. It was only a casual chat between shots. He definitely said the materials were provided for him though, so that seems to fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dob Posted April 30, 2016 Report Share Posted April 30, 2016 Do purdey offer a lifetime guarantee ?i was told a story that indicates they are that involves a pair of purdey 12 bores and Dunkirk . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted May 1, 2016 Report Share Posted May 1, 2016 Wouldn't have thought you would get a lifetime guarantee as plenty of Purdy barrels have been sleeved, when you could have had a free replacement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krugerandsmith Posted May 2, 2016 Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 If the guy was from Sheffield he is probably telling you the truth. If you have a look at the Purdey website; in particular the article about their damascus gun, they state that the material is as suggested by figgy, a powdered steel process where the material is manufactured and twisted in Sweden but forged in Sheffield. As the forging is only the first part of the process towards a pair of barrels and probably doesnt involve any boring out or external machining the figure of £200 starts to look more realistic. I agree. ( Its a wonder that they are not made in China like everything else ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted May 3, 2016 Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 Because bespoke guns are so labour intensive the actual men on the benches are paid very poorly. When we were kids my friend did an apprenticeship with H&H but couldn't get out quick enough once he had served his time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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