Jan 27th, 2012 by Gregg
W. & C. Scott was one of the most important gunmakers of the last 200 years. In the their history they came up with many different designs for doubles. One of the quirkiest was the Quintuple Grip system you can see on this shotgun.
W. & C. Scott Double Barrel Shotgun with Quintuple Grip
This system combined a standard Purdey-bolt with two bolts on the outside of the action and barrels. It was used on a number of guns in the 1880s and makers like Holland & Holland also used it on a few of their hammerguns.
It’s an intersting design, but not very practical. The gun itself is clunky, and I doubt the exteral bolts are an advantage.
Jan 27th, 2012 by Gregg
Over and Under double barrel shotguns don’t seem innovative to us. But back in the 1920s, shotguns with stacked barrels were still a new idea to most shooter. This old add from Boss shows how they sold these new-fangled things.
I like the “Vertical Gun” description, as well as the claims of “Perfect and quicker alignment, better balance, less recoil.” I’m not sure these claims are true (less recoil definitely isn’t), but that’s salesmanship for you.
Advertisement for Boss's Over and Under double barrel shotgun
Jan 20th, 2012 by Gregg
Gun Auctions can be great place to buy double barrel shotguns — if you know what you’re doing. And I really mean “if”.
Auctioneers need to get as much as they can for every lot in their sale. Buyers need all the information they can get. This sets up a sort of cat-and-mouse game. And while an auctioneer should tell the truth about a item (should), there are plenty ways to tell the truth without giving away a gun’s whole story.
W.W. Greener Hammer Double Barrel Shotgun
This is what I mean. Check out this 12 gauge W.W. Greener hammergun. From the pics and information listed, I can see three issues with this gun. None of them are called out. Can you guess them?
The first is the butt stock. It looks refinished. Let’s check the condition report to see what it says:
“Very Fine. The barrels retain 70% of the damascus pattern with the balance a smooth brown patina. The action retains 70% original vivid case colors. The engraving is crisp. The wood is very fine with some minor handling marks and some scattered minor blemishes in the overall crisp checkering with minor chip missing from the forearm (right side). The case is good.”
Nothing about a refinish. Of course, there’s nothing about it being original either (even though the auction has “original vivid case colors”). This omission makes me think that the auctioneer believes the stock has been redone (very well, though).
Issue number two and three have to do with the barrels. First, there’s the length. The listing says they’re 27 3/4″ long. OK, but the barrels on vintage British shotguns are almost always 28″ or 30″. So what’s going on — have these been cut, or did the auctioneer make a mistake?
I sent some emails to find out. The auctioneer confirmed that the barrels were 27 3/4″ long; W.W. Greener confirmed that this length does not match what’s in their records. So it’s safe to say the barrels are cut.
Next, check out the browning on the barrels. Since the barrels have been cut, that brown is probably not original. If you take another look at the condition report you’ll see that the auctioneer doesn’t think the bbl’s finish is original, either. If he did, he would say so.
So that’s 3 issues. While they auctioneer doesn’t scream about them , I’m pretty certain he knows they’re all there.
BTW: The only way to know if the gun is really OK is to inspect yourself, or to hire someone to look it over for you.
Gregg
www.dogsanddoubles.com
Jan 16th, 2012 by Gregg
Woodward Over & Under shotguns make me crazy. They are one of the most elegant double barrel shotguns every made — without a doubt — and the ones I’ve handled have been some of the finest shotguns I’ve ever seen.
Pair of 20 gauge Woodward Over Under Shotguns
James Woodward & Sons introduced their Over & Under in 1913 (Boss’s came out in 1909). I’m not how many they made before being bought by James Purdey & Sons in 1949 — but I would guess it was fewer than 300 O/Us all together.
Most of these were 12 gauges, with some 16 gauges and a handful of 20 gauges. Woodward also made at least one O/U in .410 and maybe some in 10 gauge and 28 gauge (I’ve never seen or heard of 10g or 28g Woodward O/U, but that doesn’t mean much).
With such small production numbers, decent Woodward O/Us are hard to find today. Pairs of them rarely come on the market. Pairs of 20 gauge Woodward O/Us are practically unknown. That’s why these guns that Lewis Drake has are so stunning. They’re a true pair of 20gs, made in the 1930s for King Michael of Romania. It’s good to be the king.
Pic courtesy Lewis Drake. All rights reserved.
Jan 13th, 2012 by Gregg
The English Pointer lays claim to ancestors throughout Europe. Dogs from Spain are said to be the beginning of the breed, and an earlier version of the modern Portugese Pointer probably added a few bricks to the EP’s foundation.
Portugese Pointer, from Pointing Dogs, Volume One: The Continentals
Portugese Pointers can be traced back to the 18th century and today, these hard hunting, short haired dogs are still chasing game. Craig Koshyk tells their story here and in his book Pointing Dog, Volume One : The Continentals.
Pics courtesy Craig Koshyk. All rights reserved.
Portugese Pointer, from Pointing Dogs, Volume One: The Continentals
Jan 12th, 2012 by Gregg
I’ve always been told that grouse switch to Aspen buds as cold winter moves in and the ground freezes up. This string over at Upland Journal proves that that’s not the whole story. Some bird’s diets are a bit more diverse.
Ruffed Grouse crop, stuffed with ferns & buds
The bird was shot in late December. Check out the content of it’s crop (and just how full that crop is) to see what it has been eating.
I think that green, leafy stuff is Toothed Wood Fern.
Ferns & buds from a Ruffed Grouse's crop
