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Bruce Minard’s HiFive Kennels has been around since 1996. In that time, it has gained a reputation for quality bird dogs. I’ve seen Bruce’s dogs on the trial circuit and they’re always impressive.

This video shows an 11-month old English Pointer named HiFive Unlisted. Watch how nice and easy this dog handles. Also, check out how dynamic and snappy he is on the ground. That athleticism is what makes English Pointers such impressive dogs. Once you get used to all that drama and grace in a dog, it’s hard to hunt behind another breed.

Good guns! Some nice double barrel shotguns are coming up to auction of the next few weeks. Here are couple side-by-sides and over-and-unders that caught my eye:

Fox A grade 20 gauge double barrel shotgun

Fox A grade 20 gauge double barrel shotgun

A.H. Fox Grade CE, 20 ga. side by side shotgun, mfg. 1927

A.H. Fox Grade A, 20 ga. side by side shotgun, 28″, mfg. 1930

Fabrique Nationale & Arms 28 Ga. O/U Shotgun

Ithaca Classic Doubles 4E 20 Gauge Shotgun

Parkers double barrel shotguns are probably the most popular, and most collectible, of the vintage America side by sides. Here’s a good look at one of the earliest Parker designs – the Under Lifter hammergun. I handled a number of under-lifter Parkers. They’re surprisingly easy to open/close.

Opening up an old English gun case is like stepping through the looking glass: You tug the leather straps, push the lock to the right, and the lid opens onto another world.

Vintage Vaseline for a .350 Rigby

Vintage Vaseline for a .350 Rigby

That’s why these original double-rifle accessories so cool. The seller claims that they came out of a case for .350 Rigby, but think they would go with any Rigby double barrel rifle.

Disc-Striker Key

Glass Oil Bottle

Special Cleaning Fluid

Vintage Gun Vaseline

Vintage Bone Striker Pot

The Pachón Navarro, a Spanish pointing dog

Double-barrel nose on a Pachón Navarro

I’m interested in side by sides — that’s pretty obvious. So when I came across the Pachón Navarros, a  Spanish pointing dog with a double barrel nose, I was intrigued.

According to Craig Koshyk’s Pointing Dogs, Volume One: The Continentals, the Pachón Navarros trace back to the very first sporting breeds to appear around the Pyrenees Mountains, way back in the 13th century. The dogs almost disappeared in the early 20th century, but today a growing group of hunters and enthusiasts are rebuilding the breed.

You can go hear to read more about Pachón Navarros. And for the full story, along with tons of great info on a lot more hunting dogs, pick up a copy of Pointing Dogs, Volume One: The Continentals today.

The Pachón Navarro

A Pachón Navarro in the field

Over the last 12 years Craig Koshyk has been on a mad pursuit. You should thank him. Koshyk has dedicated thousands of hours and even more $$$$ to create a beautiful new book titled Pointing Dogs, Volume One: The Continentals.

Pointing Dogs, Volume One: The Continentals

Buy this book now

You’re probably thinking breed book, great (eyes rolling, fight back a yawn). But please understand this: Pointing Dogs is much, much more than that.

While it is filled with original research on 52+ breeds, Pointing Dogs book is as much about Koshyk’s passion for these dogs as it is about their ancestry, coat colors, and hunting styles. This passion is what makes the book such a great read.

Starting tomorrow, I’m going to feature a bit about each breed in the book: one dog a week, 52 weeks. To get the full story behind these dogs, purchase a copy Pointing Dogs, Volume One: The Continentals for yourself.

BTW: I want to ask you for a favor: Spread the word about this book. Email your buddies. Talk it up. Give it as a gift and buy multiple copies for yourself. This will help Koshyk complete his next book — Pointing, Dogs Volume Two: The British Pointing Dogs.

So it’s 1956 and you’re in London’s West End, looking to purchase a top-end sidelock double barrel shotgun. Here’s a quick look at how it would go. Check out the try gun used for the fitting, as well as the tools behind the stocker’s vise. I love the stern looks on everyone’s face. Very serious work.

BTW: I think this is Wilkes’s old shop, or maybe Watson’s. Does anyone know for sure?

GUN MAKING

Ghost grouse…

Happy 2012.

Well, another upland season has come to an end for me and Puck – our seventh season together. December was a good to us. We saw quite a few grouse each time we went out. Our last time out hunting was the day after Christmas. The weather was in the mid-30s and there was 2″ – 3″ of snow in my covers – not too much to put the birds off of feeding on the ground. We hit a couple spots and got into 6-8 birds.

But while the birds were there, they weren’t holding for points. I think some were on the ground and others were roosting/feeding right off the ground. Either way, they all flushed well before I made it to Puck. Here are some shots from the day. Enjoy.

I’m really liking these short videos produced by Midway USA. This next one is about how to lubricate a break open shotgun. Even though the double barrel shown is an over-and-under (a Pigeon-grade Browning, I think), the same guidelines should apply to any side-by-side, too.

To go along with post about gun fitting, I thought I would add this quick video about drop on a double-barrel shotgun. If you’ve ever wondered why drop matters and how to measure it, check it out. Very helpful.

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