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.

Today, our Double rifles are built on our patented Beesley action. This allows for fast opening and reloading, and gives absolute confidence to the hunter, crucial when facing dangerous game. The performance of our rifles combined with the graceful Purdey shape and balance makes it, we believe, the finest Double rifle in the world.