In an article published in the Vintage Gun Journal in January 2024, I discussed the history of Purdey’s first Over & Under; the ‘Sextuple Bite’ gun.
Developed in the early 1920s in response to demand from America, just 27 were produced between 1925 and 1939, when the war effectively ended production. The last example was sold from stock in 1942 and although there were plans to restart production post-war, this never occurred. The purchase of James Woodward & Sons in 1949, together with its ‘Under & Over’ action, ensured the ‘Sextuple Bite’ design was consigned to history.
When I wrote that article, and the related chapter in my history of the Woodward ‘Under & Over,’ three questions remained unanswered. Over the last year, various documents have come to light in the Purdey archives that provide further details, and images of five further ‘Sextuple Bite’ guns have been seen. Together, they go at least some way towards addressing these outstanding questions and providing a more complete history of this peculiar design. In addition, Tom Purdey’s original notes and drawings of the action and ejectors have been found, providing a contemporary insight into its construction and operation.
When the original article was published, it was clear Purdey’s first Over & Under action had been modified after its introduction in 1925. The original design was modified from an action patented by the Cheltenham firm, Edwinson Green in 1912. One feature that was carried over to the initial Purdey design was a full-width cross-pin, like that found on a side-by-side.
it significantly increased the overall depth of the action, giving it an ungainly shape
The downside to this was that it significantly increased the overall depth of the action, giving it an ungainly shape. At some point during the 1930s, the action underwent significant modification. The most noticeable change was the replacement of the cross-pin with the trunnions favoured by Woodward. This meant that the barrels sat between the pivot point, reducing the overall depth of the action and creating a much better profile from Purdey’s perspective.
While the changeover was known to have occurred, it was only possible to say that it happened between 1930 and 1937. However, No. 24,723 has since come to light in America. This is a 12-bore example that was completed in 1935, and which was actioned jointly by Harry Lawrence and Len Howard prior to the latter taking over actioning duties for all subsequent Over & Unders.
Photographs supplied by the owner show that this was completed on the later-style action, suggesting that all of the Howard-actioned Purdeys were also built on the modified design. It is possible to push the changeover date back slightly further thanks to one of Harry Lawrence’s inter-war notebooks. This includes smoke blacks of parts of the ejector and forend-work of No. 24,644, another 12-bore which was completed in September 1933.
Although not definitive, the shape and style of the forend-iron appears to correspond with that on No. 24,723. As this article was being written, I received images of No. 23, 963 – the only 16-bore ever made on this action, and the middle of three guns completed in 1930. This was built on Harry Lawrence’s original design, and it therefore seems most likely that the action was modified between 1930 and 1933. This aligns with Harry’s comment that he was only allowed to do so after Athol Purdey’s retirement in 1928.
One other feature of Purdey’s action was the six bites that gave the action its unofficial name. Two were fitted on each side of the barrels, and the final two were secured by a cross-bolt on the breech-face. Writing to Geoffrey Boothroyd in the 1970s, Lawrence commented that two of the six bites had been removed as part of the redesign of the action.
every known example has all six bites
However, every known example has all six bites, and at the time I wrote the original article this contradiction could not be explained. Harry’s notebook again provides a potential answer, as he noted that updated gun weights for the Over & Under were supplied to the ‘front shop’ (Audley House) on 21 March 1939.
These were split out into guns for 2¾in. cartridges and those for 2½in. cases, all of which were within two ounces of those for side-by-side guns with the same barrel length. Underneath he noted that ‘The 2½ case guns will not have 3rd grips.’ As it makes more sense to remove one from each side, this would explain when the two grips were removed.
Unfortunately, while this answers part of the question, it is unclear which of the bites he was referring to. Harry later said that he removed ‘the two forward grips,’ which has often been assumed to refer to those in the walls of the action, nearest the hinge. However, third grips are usually those on the breech-face of the action, and so the two descriptions seem at odds.
Which of these two interpretations is true will remain unclear. Only five 2½in.-chambered guns were completed on the Purdey action, the last of which was sold in 1930. Just three actions were completed after the factory notified Audley House of the change and each was chambered for 2¾in. cartridges, meaning that they had all six bites.
The final mystery was an experimental action, put into production some time in 1938. Although some records suggest it was made into at least a barrelled action, in the 1949 stocktake only the latter remained, with the word ‘Dural’ against its entry. According to Harry’s notebook, on 12 August 1938, Purdey purchased three action forgings from J. Booth & Co. (1915) Ltd. in Birmingham.
These were made from Duralumin; an Aluminium-based alloy which had been patented in Germany in 1909. It was sold under the trade name ‘Dural’ and was similar in strength to steel but at a third of the weight. It became popular with the aeronautical industry for both fixed-wing aircraft and airships, including both R101 and the Hindenburg. It was also used by German gunmakers, with Hubertus building over & under guns and combination gun/rifles on Dural actions into the 1960s.
Harry’s notebook includes drawings and notes on a German ‘Dural’
While these actions show that the metal could be engraved and suitable hardened, they have the distinctive white/silver colour of aluminium. Harry’s notebook includes drawings and notes on a German ‘Dural’ over & under, perhaps to better understand some of the challenges they might face.
Purdey’s experiment with Duralumin may have been prompted by Vickers, who were both supplying the company with barrel tubes and the owners of J. Booth & Co. The purchase also coincided with Purdey’s first approach to the Air Ministry for contracts in the event of war, but this may be coincidental. The three hand forgings, each weighing 4lbs., were purchased at a total cost of £1 17s.
Five days later, Harry noted that ‘Howard machining(?) up O&U action from one forging,’ and the company’s 1949 stock take confirms that it was No. 25,654. This passed through the action shop in early September, although confusingly it was recorded as a side-by-side at that time. Harry’s notebook also suggests that Duralumin forend-irons were also made up, although there is no record as to whether these were ever fitted to any guns.
Ultimately, whether for mechanical or aesthetic reasons, it seems that it was decided not to proceed with using Duralumin for building Purdey guns. As noted above, the action was last recorded in the office of Purdey’s factory at No. 2 Irongate Wharf in 1948. There is no further reference to any other ‘Dural’ parts in the same ledger, suggesting that the two other action forgings might have been disposed of or scrapped during the Second World War.
While it seems extremely likely that No. 25,654 may have suffered a similar fate, it would certainly be a curiosity if it had survived – a unique action in an experimental material, and a testament to Purdey’s attempts to continue innovating, even on the eve of war.
Published by Vintage Guns Ltd on (modified )
