According to legend, a Damascus sword was so sharp it could cleave through metal. Drop a hair across the blade and it would fall cleanly in two. The origins of ‘Damascus’ steel date back to ancient Syria where the many-layered, beautifully patterned metal was revered for its unsurpassed strength. Although Damascus was favoured in the manufacturing of knives, by the early 20th century the techniques were adapted for the production of gun barrels. Almost mystical in its appearance and quality, the very earthly Damascus has been used in the forging of guns for centuries. When James Purdey began his apprenticeship in 1798, London gunmakers forged their Damascus barrels out of nails from old horseshoes — which were thought to have been toughened by the heavy wear they’d endured.

Our all-Damascus gun is a world-first. Available in Side-by-Side or Over-and-Under configuration, it’s hand-crafted in Hammersmith using Damasteel steel alloy forged in Sweden. Each gun has more than a hundred layers, which creates the distinctive Damascus pattern. With exceptional purity and strength, it lends itself perfectly to the rigours of long service in the field. Our Damascus guns don’t feature the traditional engraving of a Purdey gun as the metal creates its own unique pattern when forged. We only engrave a name and number, with either conventional lettering or gold inlay.