By Gabriel Carter
One gun that I’ll never sell or give away — except to my son — belonged originally to my great great grandfather, Weetman Pearson. It’s a Purdey side-by-side in 12 ga., one of a pair that started the building process in 1883 and was finished in 1884. For any who doesn’t know, Purdey is one of the great English sporting gunmakers. The family gunmakers are based in London on South Audley street, and have been making guns since 1814. A new matched pair will set you back somewhere in the neighborhood of £100,000. An antique matched pair will go for auction anywhere between £30 – £250,000 depending on condition and history . . .