James Purdey & Sons has a long history of producing some of the most coveted firearms in existence. Before the company began, its eponymous founder worked as an apprentice to Joseph Manton, whom many consider the most important British gunsmith of the 19^th century. Manton made revolutionary technical improvements to guns and pioneered flawlessly crafted sporting shotguns that were also luxury art objects.

Manton’s legacy is embodied in many of the finest shotguns that can be bought today. James Purdey & Sons has recently released its new Purdey Sporter, an over-and-under shotgun whose manufacturing process has this year been brought entirely in house, and may now be deemed a London-made Sporter. Master craftspeople make and finish each bespoke order by hand at Purdey’s Felgate House factory in Hammersmith.

The Purdey Sporter is steel-proofed and is the first of the company’s guns to feature an anti-corrosion coating applied to all the internal parts of the action. It’s engraved with a gorgeous new design of Purdey’s rose and scroll pattern, while a reduction in the weight of the barrel makes it light and well-balanced and grants great handling.

While Purdey nowadays combines its centuries-old techniques with cutting-edge tech, it also addresses some issues the modern world faces through efforts to conserve landscapes and their habitats. The Purdey Awards for Game and Conservation champion conservation efforts at shoots across the United Kingdom, 250 of which have entered the Awards so far. The extent to which applicants’ practices and projects support conservation is examined. These might include improving habitats, increasing species biodiversity, or planting hedges and woodland.

In 2010, the Duke of Norfolk won first prize for his conservation project at the Peppering shoot in West Sussex, which increased spring partridge pair counts there from three to 262 over the span of seven years. And Purdey is actively committed to sustainability, too. Its sustainability manager Dee Kennedy-Merrett explains that the company’s ‘top focus is indirect emissions within our supply chain, and we’re now starting to engage with suppliers on this.’

James Purdey & Sons nowadays endeavours to improve British landscapes and their ecosystems

This year, the brand also launched an initiative under which it plants a new walnut tree for every gun it sells, celebrating the walnut wood it uses to manufacture them. Marking the beginning of this project, Purdey planted 100 such trees at the Royal Berkshire estate in Pangbourne. These included the Juglans regia variety – known for durability – and fruit-bearing walnut trees such as Broadview and Lara, which benefit biodiversity and cross-pollination.

The garments in Purdey’s autumn/winter 2022 collection are designed to reflect, both practically and aesthetically, the beautiful British landscapes to whose preservation the brand is contributing. Several of the tweeds in the collection remain undyed, utilising the natural palette of Shetland sheep. The Men’s Tweed Field Coat, made from cashmere and ethically sourced wool, resembles the fields surrounding the Royal Berkshire estate through its understated olive and navy houndstooth check design. Its hand-warming pockets are lined with micro-fleece and its adjustable storm cuffs shield the wearer from the elements.

Several garments from Purdey’s autumn-winter 2022 collection

The Loden Field Coat for women evokes deep blue Highland lakes. It has a weather-proof lining and is crafted from wool and alpaca fibres for insulation. And the new khaki and slate colourways of the Cable Knit Sweaters are inspired by landscapes and atmospheric winter skies. The superfine lambswool and cashmere from which they’re made are sourced near the borders of Scotland in Hawick, the home of Scottish knitwear. These also feature Purdey’s signature cable and trellis motif, reminiscent of the heritage engravings of its gun-making.

Indeed, when it comes to stylish outerwear crafted from luxurious materials and technical fabrics, Purdey’s autumn/winter 2022 collection is no shot in the dark.

The new Sporter has a 9-12 month lead time and will remain the welcome level to Purdey guns at £42,500 plus VAT; purdey.com