[bannockburn]

Well here's one that's no longer an Urban Myth. Remember hearing the story about some really fancy, really expensive, custom made English shotgun that the world's dumbest criminal turned into a SAWED-OFF SHOTGUN... I just saw a picture of it in the latest issue of Small Arms Review. In an article entitled, "An Insiders Visit to the ATF National Firearms Collection", by Jim Schatz and Dan Shea, on page 81, there's a photo of it; with the caption: "Maybe the sickest piece in the collection. A $50,000 lavishly engraved Purdy (SxS) 12 gauge shotgun". The barrels appear to have been cut-off about 3 or 4" from the forearm, while the stock , which was a straight grip pattern, seems to have lost 6 or 7" off of it. One can only hope that there are no more senseless, cruel, and totally inexpiable crimes, like this, committed against fine English shotguns, ever again.

[The Deer Hunter]

Thats so horrible...Maybe, thugs are looking for class these days? A way to stand out from normal gangstas....

[Robert Hairless]

I know of cars that have had their windows smashed because there was an audio cassette or something else of little value in plain view when the car was locked and unoccupied. People who steal don't care about anyone else, especially not about the harm they cause. All that matters to them is what they want.

[scout26]

If that doesn't warrant summary execution/the death penalty, I don't know what does.......

[M2Pilot]

I saw that too. It is indeed a dreadful shame.

[Javelin]

Maybe it looked like "Bling"? Haha.

[kgpcr]

Its sad to be sure but those glitzy guns just dont do much for me. I am in to working shotguns and i dont think many if any at all would hunt with it.

[inkhead]

I wonder if it was a wealth drug lord, who knew the price but just wanted to show people that money was no object. Because your average street criminal would have a hard time getting one of these, and I don't think it would end up at the ATF...

[TrapperReady]

I am in to working shotguns and i dont think many if any at all would hunt with it.


If you think that Purdey (or H&H, etc...) shotguns aren't routinely taken into the field, then you're dead wrong. As far as high-grade guns being used a lot, swing by an NSCA "Big Blast" event and look at some of the guns in the racks. A lot of the "glitzy" guns you would see get used more in a year than many hunting shotguns get used in a lifetime.

BTW, the majority of English best guns are designed primarily for hunting, and are used for that purpose.

[Jim Watson]

I don't know what the British crooks are using these days, but once upon a time, it was quite usual to steal a game gun of whatever quality, saw it off, and use it for a "building society withdrawal." (We would call that a savings and loan holdup.)

No doubt there is some anti gun bureaucrat snickering up his sleeve over that Purdey. If returned to its original owner, it would be well worth rebarreling and restocking, even at the cost of several thousand dollars.

[PJR]

I wouldn't turn my nose up at that gun if someone gave it to me. A new stock and sleeved barrels would probably set you back $10,000 to have them done right but you'd end up with a gun worth a lot more.

[toivo]

I don't know what the British crooks are using these days, but once upon a time, it was quite usual to steal a game gun of whatever quality, saw it off, and use it for a "building society withdrawal." (We would call that a savings and loan holdup.)

Have you seen the movie "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels"? That's sort of what it's about, minus the sawing-off.

[bannockburn]

You can't really tell a lot from the photo, but it doesn't appear to be a "glitzy" looking shotgun. The side plates are silver with some rather delicate floral looking engraving on them. Nothing very extravagant; just tastefully done in a somewhat understated fashion. The stock (or what's left of it), looks to be a nice piece of walnut, with an oil finish, and with a finely checkered straight grip section. Overall, I think this shotgun would have been right at home out in the fields, being used for hunting on a regular basis.