I wonder what Darwin would have made of this video. From what I’ve read, evolution doesn’t allow for the frivolous. Animals are purposeful and our actions are supposed to be all about passing on our genes. So what’s going on in this video? From what I can see, this grouse is clearly playing with this kid.
Nice case, but where are the Boss shotguns???
Apr 5th, 2012 by Gregg
Boss & Co. Case for a trio of side-by-side shotguns
If you own a trio of Boss side-by-side shotguns and you’ve been looking for an original case to store them in, congratulations: today is your lucky day. This Boss & Co oak-and-leather double barrel shotgun case is on Ebay right now.
Boss moved to Albermarle Street in 1930 and they made most of their trios of shotguns before World War II. So it’s possible that the side-by-side shotguns that came in this case were made before 1939.
Here’s something that amazes me: Boss has always made some of the most expensive shotguns in the world and the guns that went into this case were ordered at the height of the great depression.
BTW: I already emailed the person selling the case. The guns are long gone.
Original Westley Richards case labels….
Apr 4th, 2012 by Gregg
Westley Richard’s famous Anson & Deeley double barrel shotgun came out in 1875. Since then, it has earned a reputation as one of the most important shotgun patents ever developed. All three of these labels would have appeared in an old Westley case for one of their Anson & Deeley double barrel shotguns, just like you see here. The info on the last label is still sound advice today.
Westley Richards Case Label
Westley Richards Case Label
Westley Richards Case Label
Good gun alert: FAIR Model 600 16 gauge O/U…
Apr 2nd, 2012 by Gregg
True sixteen gauge over and under shotguns are tough to find. By “true” I mean O/Us with actions scaled for sixteen gauge barrels. When a 16-gauge O/U is built on a 12-gauge action, it looses these handling benefits and makes itself obsolete.
16 gauge FAIR Model 600 Over & Under Shotgun
This 16 gauge FAIR over-under is far from that. In fact, it’s a great double, a true step up from a 20, but lighter and quicker than a 12. FAIR shotguns were imported by New England Arms from about 1999-2005. I’ve seen a lot of them and most of them have been nice guns.
Breed of the Week: The Braque Saint Germain…
Mar 31st, 2012 by Gregg
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 Saint Germain, from Craig Koshyk's Pointing Dogs, Volume One
The Braque Saint Germain’s story is similar to the stories behind many of today’s Continental hunting dogs. There are the hazy early years with links French nobility, then the rumors of greatness and a popularity that leads to the breed’s dilution and decline. Then there’s the collapse brought on by the World Wars and the breed’s resurrection and slow climb into today.
Craig Koshyk tells this story well in his book Pointing Dogs, Volume One: The Continentals. Thanks to a ton of original research, he’s been able to separate myth from fact, and with his pen and camera, he’s created a wonderful story of these beautiful dogs. I encourage you to buy a copy of his book today. Pic is copyright Craig Koshyk.
Guy De La Valdene and his dog…
Mar 30th, 2012 by Gregg
From Making Game: An Essay On Woodcock:
Chet Reneson's "Northern Birds"
“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 trust. How could she know that someday she would be too old to hunt and that soon after she would die? All she knew was that she loved me at that together we had nudged dun-colored skies into fanfare of wings, whimpered and cut ourselves on talus faces, lost ourselves in sweltering bogs, and found birds where there should have been none. We understood each other better than most men understand god. More important, we hoped that when autumn came, the birds would fly.” pgs. 78-79
The ugliest Purdeys ever?
Mar 30th, 2012 by Gregg
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.
Ugly Purdey 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 listing, the guns are in new, unfired condition. Even though the guns look well made and the engraving is very nice, the coin-finished action, single gold trigger, and beavertail forend all add up to an ugly mess. It’s no wonder the owner never used them — he probably couldn’t stand the sight of them.
Auction Alert- Winchester, L.C. Smith and more…
Mar 29th, 2012 by Gregg
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.
Winchester Model 21 12 gauge at South Bay Auctions
Here are a few of the highlights. All these guns look clean and very original:
12 gauge Winchester Model 21 with 21-2 Engraving 12g
16 gauge L.C. Smith Field Grade
12 gauge Winchester Model 12 Heavy Duck Gun
An as new Winchester Model 12 -20ga. Pump shotgun, 28″ plain barrel
A&F Zanotti 28g. 26″ bbls, ejectors, single trigger, straight grip
Shooting with the King…
Mar 29th, 2012 by Gregg
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 PDF titled “Shooting with the King at Sandringham”. It’s an account from a “ONE-TIME GUEST” of what to expect if King Edward the VII of England had you out to his place for a couple days of game shooting.
This video shows the same King doing the same thing: shooting at Sandringham.
KING EDWARD VII AT SANDRINGHAM
Follow Us!
-
Recent Posts
Topics
Archives
- May 2012 (14)
- April 2012 (31)
- March 2012 (33)
- February 2012 (17)
- January 2012 (24)
- December 2011 (17)
- November 2011 (8)
- October 2011 (8)
- September 2011 (15)
- August 2011 (12)
- July 2011 (9)
- June 2011 (15)
- May 2011 (10)
- April 2011 (7)
- March 2011 (7)
- February 2011 (12)
- January 2011 (16)
- December 2010 (7)
- November 2010 (3)
- October 2010 (16)
- September 2010 (11)
- August 2010 (9)
- July 2010 (3)
- June 2010 (5)
- May 2010 (2)
- April 2010 (8)
- March 2010 (12)
- February 2010 (12)
- January 2010 (7)
- December 2009 (1)
- November 2009 (1)
- September 2009 (4)
- August 2009 (1)
- March 2009 (2)
- February 2009 (5)
- December 2008 (2)
- August 2008 (3)
- June 2008 (3)
- May 2008 (7)
- April 2008 (4)