£100,000 shotgun manufactured from powder metallurgy formed Damascus Steel
September 24, 2010
London based gun and rifle maker James Purdey & Sons has unveiled its latest innovation in bespoke gunmaking, a 20-bore over and under game gun, which apart from the stock, is made almost entirely from powder metallurgy formed Damascus Steel.
Modelled on a classic design layout, Purdey believes its new Damascus gun is a world first in using this steel for all external and many internal components. These include barrels, action body, lock plates, trigger mechanism and guard.
The project has taken over three years of intensive research, design and manufacture, and was made using steel supplied by Damasteel AB, of Söderfors, Sweden. Damasteel AB uses a patented process involving hot isostatic pressing to form patterned Damascene steel billets and bars.
Damasteel won an EPMA Award for ‘Innovation in Powder Metallurgy’ in 1994 for their unique production process, and the use of their Damascus steel ranges from hunting knifes to jewellery.
Nigel Beaumont, Chairman of James Purdey and Sons, said: “Our whole gunmaking team have really enjoyed working on this project to design and build the world’s first all Damascus gun. The finished product shows off the beauty of its special steel to great effect. Given the Damascus Gun’s unique provenance we are confident it will become a highly prized collector’s item.”
Unlike other Purdey guns the Damascus gun carries no engraving apart from its makers name in gold on the lock plates and barrels, highlighting the Damascus patterning, unique to each gun. The new gun will be priced at just over £100,000.
