Hunting dogs, fine firearms, and enjoying both.
Posted in HUNTING DOGS on Mar 31st, 2012
At first glance, the Braque Saint Germain looks like the English Pointer’s Gallic cousin. And you get the same impression after your second and third glance at the breed. There’s a good reason for this: Like many European pointing dogs, the modern Braque Saint Germain has a lot of English Pointer in it. The Braque [...]
Posted in ENJOYING BOTH, HUNTING DOGS on Mar 30th, 2012
From Making Game: An Essay On Woodcock: “That evening I was lonely and I caught a condition the French call vin triste (“sad wine”). I returned to my motel room, packed, and told my dog that we were in the wrong line of work. Her eyes were like pats of butter and radiated a lifetime of [...]
Posted in DOUBLE BARREL SHOTGUNS on Mar 30th, 2012
In their 150+ year history, J. Purdey & Sons have made some of the finest and most beautiful double barrels ever, including guns like this express rifles and this side-by-side shotgun. Unfortunately, Purdey has also made some stinkers. Here are two them: a pair of 12 gauges that just came up at Cabelas. According to the [...]
Posted in DOUBLE BARREL SHOTGUNS on Mar 29th, 2012
South Bay Auctions in East Moriches, LI, is having this Antiques, Fine art & Sporting Auction this Saturday, March 31st, 2012. The preview starts at 10:00am and auction begins at noon. There are a handful of nice double barrel shotguns, plus pumps and bolt rifles there, along with some nice sporting art and decoys. Here [...]
Posted in ENJOYING BOTH on Mar 29th, 2012
The British double barrel shotguns that we revere today, the vintage Purdeys, Bosses, and Holland & Holland Royals, came about in a world of extreme privilege. Kings, Dukes, and other Lords dictated tastes. The few others who could afford it, followed. Here’s are a couple fascinating looks into that world. This first one is a [...]
Posted in HUNTING DOGS on Mar 28th, 2012
Meat dog vs. Field Trial Dog. It’s a debate you hear all the time. Of course, the first step to an informed opinion on the subject is to see an actual field trial. So if you live in the eastern Massachusetts area, here’s the listing for the Setter Club of New England’s trial this weekend. [...]
Posted in DOUBLE BARREL SHOTGUNS on Mar 27th, 2012
Traveling with a nice double barrel is an uncomfortable experience, especially when commercial airlines are involved. I’ve heard too many horror stories about favorite guns being damaged or stolen to rest peacefully when my side-by-sides are in the sky. A couple of years ago I eliminated some of this anxiety by buying a travel shotgun. [...]
Posted in ENJOYING BOTH on Mar 27th, 2012
I’ve posted this first video before. It’s gives you such a good look at the mating rituals of the American Woodcock that I want to share it again. This second one is new and well worth a look. Enjoy.
Posted in DOUBLE BARREL SHOTGUNS on Mar 27th, 2012
I wrote about this 24 gauge Charles Daly Regent Diamond grade A couple weeks ago. Today, lets look at a much earlier Daly double barrel. This is a 12 gauge Diamond grade, one step down from the Regent Diamond, but in many ways a much more beautiful side by side. This gun was made in [...]
Posted in DOUBLE BARREL SHOTGUNS on Mar 26th, 2012
From about 1870 to the late 1880s, “The Premier Gun” was W. & C. Scott’s finest double barrel shotgun. Offered first as a hammer gun, and then in hammerless models, The Premier Gun was made right up until World War II. Today, these side-by-side shotguns pop up on the market on a regular basis. This Premier was [...]
