As part of its ‘A Gentleman’s London’ series, The Rake editor-in-chief Tom Chamberlin visited Purdey HQ to explore the archive and talk etiquette – a subject that is always up for discussion at Audley House. “When I say Purdey is part of the historical breadcrumbs that have made our island nation today, I really do mean it,” Chamberlin says, surrounded by the legacy of Purdey past and present.
It’s an enjoyable journey through the Purdey world, covering everything from tongue-in-cheek snobbery in attitudes towards what’s actually one of the more popular models, the Over-and-Under – “They say, you may shoot twice as much, but you’ll get half the invitations,” he jokes – through to the handcraft and skill involved in Purdey gunmaking, with a snapshot into barrel making, the intricacies of our engravings, and the underappreciated beauty of chequering by hand.
In the Long Room, Chamberlin leafs through the Purdey ledger, landing upon the record of guns and rifles made for prolific shot King George V. He also has a closer look at the remarkable prototype miniature gun made for King George V, noting that, ”If we’re looking at the historical prowess of craftsmanship across the entire world, something like this shows that Britain has been miles ahead for a very long time.”
It’s true that shooting is an age-old past-time in a modern world, and while it’s much more relaxed now than ever before, there are still certain standards to uphold. Chamberlin runs through his top 10 etiquette tips, which we’ve neatly summarised below.
- Always tip the head gamekeeper – introduce yourself and get to know them, because they have put in an awful lot of effort to make sure you have an amazing day.
- Arrive with a gift and leave with a thank you note for your host – not an email, the old-fashioned hand-written sort.
- Be on time, at the front, ready to get into the cars. It’s usually a 9am start, regardless of the frivolities the night before.
- Understand and respect the bird channels; when you take the peg, don’t shoot the bird that goes over the peg next to you.
- Pick up your cases. You’re often shooting on working farms and cartridges aren’t biodegradable, so they need to be removed from the pathway of animals and machinery.
- Don’t shoot low birds; high birds are where the country sport lies, anything too low ruins the spirit of the day.
- Always remember, safety first.
- Listen to the rules that are given to you before you set off and make sure to only shoot what is permitted.
- Gun dogs: if you have one, make sure it is impeccably behaved and calm, for the safety of the dog, the birds and everyone’s enjoyment.
- Dress appropriately… Purdey has everything needed for your sporting wardrobe.
For a full debrief on etiquette, and a look through the shelves to put together the perfect outfit for a shooting weekend, you can watch the full video above. Many thanks to Tom Chamberlin and The Rake.