Help, please: Purdy Shotgun

[rhenrichs]

I am doing a restoration job on a old Purdy shotgun....somebody butchered the tang on the trigger guard and I am going to have to replace it....does somebody out there have Purdy with a straight grip stock....I need a pattern or profile of a straight grip tang with screw locations.....I would appreciate it if somebody could send me a tracing of the tang so I have something to go by when I make the replacement part....

The engraving pattern is not important because I wll have to replicate what is on the trigger guard.....a photo might be benificial.....

Thank you
Roger Henrichs
engraver@cableone.net

 

[DKanger]

Roger,
I think your question is too generic. Old is a subjective term. Purdy made guns from the muzzleloading era thru the cartridge era and they didn't use the same trigger guards over that time span. Usually one makes a template from the mortise in the wood and then transfers it to metal. The screw locations should also be evident in the mortise. Then the tang is brazed to the guard.

Pictures of your dilemma would be helpful.

 

[graniteguy52]

Roger,

Hallowell & co. has some really good photos of some Purdeys. Try going to: http://www.hallowellco.com/james_purdey Over Under by Ken Hunt.htm

 

[Marcus Hunt]

The thing is all PurdEy's are hand made. The stocker makes parts like the trigger guard and unless it's one of a pair (and even then there can be variations) the screw holes are just eyeballed by him. In other words the screw holes can often be out by a mm or two on different guns so it's no use relying on a different gun for the dimensions 'cause chances are it will be different to the gun you're working on anyway.

Can you not take the original dimensions from the original tang? If not, is there no way of putting some sort of scribes into the screw (pin) holes to mark the back of the new tang with the centres? Failing this you could always fill the original screw holes and then drill new ones. Just my 2p worth.

 

[rmgreen]

Much as Marcus has indicated. First - I would not recommend "brazing" anything on such a high quality firearm. This is the "Mark" of poor workmanship. If building a completely new trigger guard with tang is out then "TIG" weld a tang onto the original trigger guard. Locating the screw holds in the tang is only half the problem, getting the same angle and countersink position in the tang is not possible. As Marcus indicated these are put in by the stocker by eyeball and not with a CNC. I suggest that you build a new trigger guard with tang, plug the tang screw holes in the stock with walnut plugs, drill and countersink the tang in approximately (eyeball is good) the same locations as the originals, using new high headed screws, fit and slot (.020 or .030") them so they are North and South orientation then file these to the contour of the tang. Properly polish the metal then engrave it. Normally these trigger guards are not "Blackened" by rust bluing but are charcoal blackened as was the trigger plate on those that are "black".

Good luck
Roger

 

[thughes]

Gordon, thanks those are awesome photos.

Todd

 

[Marcus Hunt]

Ex- Purdey stocker, Dave Trevallion (Trevallion Gunstocks in Cape Neddick, ME) might be worth a call. His number is 207-361-1130.

 

[LVVP]

Gordon, thanks those are awesome photos.