Alongside his son (James Purdey the Younger), Purdey developed the famous ‘Express’ Double rifle. The name was inspired by the newly introduced Express Trains. It reflected the velocity, power and accuracy of the new product — something which was eagerly adopted following its introduction in 1852. The rifle’s two-winged bullets allowed for the use of larger powder charges and correspondingly higher muzzle velocities. Purdey the Younger only allowed the term to be used in reference to smaller-bore rifles with a muzzle velocity of 1,600 feet per second or faster; giving it a flatter trajectory and far greater range than previous designs.

It wasn’t until 1949 and the purchase of James Woodward & Sons that the modern Purdey Over-and-Under was created. Patented in 1913, the Woodward design was famous for being lightweight and exceptionally robust, and the perfect basis for us to refine. Two Purdey workers, Ernest and Harry Lawrence, worked to modify the Woodward ejector mechanism. They redesigned the firing pins and implemented other minor improvements to better suit our style. These changes created both the look and design which is at the heart of every Purdey Over-and-Under built to this day.