Purdey .600 Nitro Express
Introduced at the beginning of the twentieth century by W. J. Jeffery & Co., the .600 Nitro Express represents one of the upper extremes of the traditional British sporting rifle. Its original loading propelled a 900-grain bullet and required a rifle of sufficient weight to manage the stout recoil.
No. 29151 demonstrates how Best English gunmaking brings balance to a rifle of this size. Despite the dimensions of its action and barrels, its lines remain cohesive and purposeful.
The Purdey Self-Opening Action
At the heart of No. 29151 is the famous Purdey-Beesley self-opening sidelock action, built to a scale suitable for the .600 Nitro Express. The complete rifle weighs 14 lbs 15 oz.
The action incorporates large bolsters, side-clips and a significant third fastener, providing the robust locking arrangement expected of a double rifle of this calibre, whilst still retaining the unmistakable styling of a Purdey.
The rifle has the usual features expected of a best-grade sidelock double rifle: cocking indicators on the lock plates; double triggers with the front articulated. A steel grip cap, long trigger tang and extended top tang carrying a bolted safety are all embellished with gold inlay.
Built Around the .600 NE
The rifle is fitted with 24-inch chopper-lump barrels. Their length helps keep the overall dimensions manageable, while their solid construction retains the necessary weight for the .600 Nitro Express.
At the muzzle is a characteristic Purdey feature. The blade foresight, complete with folding ‘moon’ bead, is enclosed by the firm's distinctive two-piece, or “clamshell”, sight protector. A matted quarter rib carries traditional express sights, with one standing and one folding leaf.
The figured walnut stock has a pronounced shadow-line cheekpiece, chequering and a gold oval. It is finished with a red Silvers recoil pad, a practical choice in keeping with the rifle's character.
The rifle is presently fitted with a splinter forend, with an Anson push button to release the forend ironwork, preserving the clean profile associated with a London rifle. The length of pull remains as originally ordered: 14½ inches to centre.
Engraved by K. C. Hunt
The engraving is one of No. 29151's defining features.
The original order describes the engraving as “classic Rose & Scroll with game scenes”, executed by K. C. Hunt on a ‘coin-finished’ action — Purdey's own term for a brush-finished gun or rifle. The rose-and-scroll work frames a series of finely executed African game scenes, reflecting the rifle's intended use for Africa's largest and wildest dangerous game.
The choice of finish is always a matter of personal preference, but here the ‘coin finish’ allows the depth and detail of Hunt's engraving to stand out, making full use of the generous canvas provided by the .600 NE action.
A Proper, Heavy Double Rifle
The challenge with a .600 NE is to avoid making it too small or light while accommodating the necessary weight without producing something cumbersome.
That balance depends on the joint efforts of the firm’s stocker, barrel-maker and actioner, with their work coming together as a whole. In No. 29151, their combined craft concentrates most of the weight between the hands while producing a rifle that still points well.
A Rare Purdey
Purdey-built .600 Nitro Express rifles are exceptionally uncommon, with reportedly fewer than 20 examples produced to date. The inscription on this rifle's action flats identifies it as the ninth .600 NE double rifle produced by the maker.
Within that small production, No. 29151 stands as a magnificent representative of Purdey’s work, coupled with a named engraver of K. C. Hunt. Combined, these details give this rare Purdey an individual character, rooted in the traditions of the Best English heavy double rifle.
Rifles of this quality are understandably hard to find and harder still to acquire. Recently released from a private collection, this fine and rare example is offered for sale by Westley Richards. We look forward to seeing it used in the field once more and furthering its history with more adventures to come.
Discover more about this rifle here.
Westley Richards has an outstanding reputation for supplying a comprehensive selection of pre-owned guns and rifles. We pride ourselves on our in depth knowledge of the many sporting arms built over the last 200 years, placing particular emphasis on big game rifles, like the 577 Nitro Express, 505 Gibbs and 425 Westley Richards. Whether looking to grow or sell your collection of firearms, or simply require a trusted evaluation, our team from the sales department would be delighted to hear from you. To view the latest available, head to the used shotguns and used rifles pages, and for those interested in new firearms, explore our custom rifles and bespoke guns pages.
