A man whose reputation precedes him, we’d like to take the time to properly introduce you to one of the most magnetic characters in Purdey history: Mr Tom Purdey.
Tom was something of a legend in the shooting world and beyond. He was the chief salesman for Purdey for over 30 years, selling not only to British and European clients, but travelling the length and breadth of America from the Roaring Twenties to the Golden Age of the 1950s, a time of great transformation.
Tom’s ‘two guns’ are a highlight in the Purdey archives (pictured top, at the Cortachy Estate in Scotland, in 1934), tangible pieces of history that have been shot by royalty – including the Duke of York, Prince Albert, who Tom loaned the guns to in 1929, before the Duke went on to commission a pair of his own the following year. The lightweight 12-bore guns were Nos. 23,651/2, and unusually for the time, they were completed with ‘Prince of Wales’ semi-pistolgrip stocks, rather than the more common straight-hand grips. Prince Albert went on to be crowned King George VI in 1937, and formally appointed Tom as the King’s gunmaker in 1938. His guns can now be viewed at Audley House, classic examples of the finest workmanship that still sets Purdey apart today.
Around the same time, in 1936, Tom published The Shot Gun, written with his brother Jim. The work gives a wonderful insight into their characters and inevitably includes some amusingly dated anecdotes, particularly in reference to the advisability of carrying a flask of “cold tea” (a pseudonym for whisky, Tom’s drink of choice) and exercising care as to whom you offer it to! The book remains a thoroughly enjoyable read, and still retains its relevance for the modern outdoorsman. You can read some of the highlights: Part 1 here, and Part 2 here.
At every occasion, Tom was always well dressed, whether socialising with high society, game shooting with friends, or enjoying a quiet spot of fishing. He also attended and held infamous parties, sharing a dram with several of the 20th century’s biggest names. He was a leading tweed aesthete, though his advice on what to wear was pragmatic and still stands today:
“Clothes should be the best your pocket can afford. Let them be quiet in colour, and have them loose. Don’t wear light coloured shirts and bright colours – birds see about a hundred percent more than we do.” – Tom Purdey, The Shotgun, 1936
When he died in 1957, Tom left behind a fantastic photographic archive that documents his life, from the countryside settings he spent much of his time in, to the looks he enjoyed wearing. Here are a few highlights, giving you an insight into the life and times of Tom Purdey.
Tom during WWI. He was commissioned into the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders in 1915, but withdrawn from the front line due to poor eyesight and posted back to Stirling Castle. In Spring 1916, he was seconded to 43 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, as its adjutant, a position he held until 1919.
Tom & Jim Purdey with Douglas Sholto and Harold Balfour at Andross, October 1933
Tom and Prince Frederick of Prussia at the Cortachy Estate in Scotland, 1934
Tom at Black Moss on the Millden Estate in Scotland, 1934
Tom at lunch on the Red Rice Estate in Hampshire, 1936
Tom and friends off Monte Carlo, 1937