… at present. Next we will focus on the barrels. I think it was made in 1868. Right or double click to enlarge.
Tag: Double Guns
Beautiful guns plus
I very nearly used Libby’s not unkind but perhaps too accurate term “gun porn”, but quailed at putting it in the title, fearing just what search engines might send people here. The Stephen Grant 16 is all cleaned up– mechanicals by John Besse, wood by me– safe to shoot, and pretty– now I must decide …
Quote
On “Best” guns, from the delightful Westley Richards Blog: “…the very best work is still done by men with files and chisels and, by definition, best work is what a best gun is about. When asked about the difference between making guns and making best guns, Tom Wilkes made the observation ‘it all comes down …
Arrived…
English guns, big and small
I am tempted to agree with Bob Braden and Cyril Adams, authors of Lock, Stock, and Barrel; for SHOTguns, at least side – by – side doubles, you really can’t beat the English. The new ones’ prices are barking mad, far more than my house; for the Best London ones, easily three times as much …
Shooting Smallbores
… and WHY smallbores. No time for deep analysis today– an eagerly awaited guest, last minute prep for the new tiercel including expanded housing, gunsmithery, cooking. But it would come as no surprise to most readers that I am down to using two smallbores: my all- time favorite English .410 (sold away years ago, fortuitously …
A little more info?
For those who do not follow regularly– a couple of e- mailers wondered about the post below. The shotgun below is a Best quality London- style Birmingham sidelock 12 bore, with a three figure serial number, built by Frederick “Frank” Scott between the end of the Great War and the end of his firm in …
Locks
Whatever the advertising, don’t take any “as good as” statements from modern makers about their equivalence to Golden Age Best guns. Nobody can afford the new ones, but learn quality, and you might find something over a hundred years old that doesn’t cost much at all, especially compared to its imitators… Gerry Cox, visiting from …
Pretty Guns Are Meant to be Used
Gil just got a fine Manufrance 16 bore of high grade, and snipe season is still on… I envy him the meals he is still collecting. We didn’t have much of a season here, and it is over. We need rain!
Italian
I have specific tastes, and in shotguns they run to side by side English prewar (pre- Great War!) doubles, and certain classic American pumps. Generally I think current Italian guns are beautifully made, striking guns, but often overdone, if not as baroque as the products of contemporary Austrian houses. They do make a lot of …