This elegant prototype rifle was designed and built by the British gun trade's most innovative contemporary designer, John Shirley, between 1992-3. It is a true magnum length action which elegantly incorporates the best features from older Mauser and Winchester designs. During a production period of four years, some twenty actions, including true left-hand examples, were built. The actions were designed and manufactured using computer based CAD - CAM technology pioneered by John Shirley. Extensive use was made of electrical discharge machining, form grinding and 3D profiling techniques to produce the principal components which were all cut from solid steel billets. Every component, including the tooling for the Silvers recoil-pad, was designed and manufactured by Shirley in an attempt to produce the very best rifle. The actions are, as a result, noted for the exceptional quality of their manufacture and smooth operation. In 1996 James Purdey & Sons Ltd. acquired the manufacturing facility of J.A. Shirley & Co., Gun & Rifle Makers, with John Shirley joining Purdey's as Technical Manager. In 1997 the rifle was exhibited by Purdey's at the Las Vegas Safari Club and it was subsequently taken by Purdey's Managing Director, Nigel Beaumont and John Shirley to Zimbabwe for field testing. Following its return it was then used by Purdey's as the pattern for their own production, which was based on actions acquired from Shirley at the time of the sale. This rifle is quite unique in that no other British maker has ever attempted to build in-house complete magnum magazine rifle actions before