Guns & Outdoors Forum

Yes, I have one Drilling. I did own a double 8x57JR 16x16 that was rather a nice gun and engraved with boar and roe deer but sold it some time back. I still have a 16x16 .22rf. that was re-tubed from a 7x57R This one has the claw mounted scope but has a totally plain action. Not pretty but useful. Q...

Thank you for your kind comments. I'll try to get a full length photo to add to the post soon.

Old Muzzle loaders came in all sorts of sizes. I have a double 13 bore and a couple of double 14 bores and a single 15 bore and also a couple of single 18 bores. Nothing seemed standard in those days.

I thought I dig this one out of the cabinet. It is a double percussion shotgun in 15 Bore by W. Worrall, Foregate Street, Chester, Cheshire. Thomas & James Worrall traded from that address from 1854 to 1859 until; by the look of things, one of the partners passed away and continued under James o...

No, all as original. The only change was to the 20 bore that at some time had its chambers lengthened to 2 3/4" from the original 2 1/2" and submitted for re-proof. I've had the 12 bore for many years. The 20 was bought from Chaplin's Gunmakers in Winchester, Hampshire in 2010. The 12 bore...

Just taken a couple of pictures of my 20 bore 'Dreadnought' model as mentioned. Sorry about the foot in the picture! The 12 bore Dreadnought was £9 15 shillings and could be had in 16 bore or 20 bore; as in this case, for just 10 shillings more. So for that single trigger option this little gun coul...

I thought I would bring this out of the gun cabinet this time. An example from the Birmingham firm of the Midland Gun Company. The company was founded around 1878 and produced guns under its own name and also to supply to the general trade. Many a gun bears a name from some London, Scottish or provi...

For some reason I can't recall what I paid but I would guess somewhere between 100 and 200 pounds. I 've only shot it the once and it shot well. The bores are still clean as they would need to be flawless for submission to re-proof. Someone before me has looked after it well. I will try to check wha...

Last time I introduced a shotgun from E. Roberts of Birmingham that re-used an old muzzle loader barrel to make up a useful breech loader. This time it's a double 12 bore with the top rib marked 'New Barrel by E. Roberts, 141, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham'. The action however is marked J. Draper. The...

I have quite a few guns with Damascus barrels of various types. They always look rather elegant. Gunmakers would sometimes offer their guns with either steel or Damascus and the Damascus was always about 10 to 20% more expensive. The British Proof Houses would have to test and mark them just the sam...

Last Sunday I went to a black powder sporting clay shoot and dug this gun out to take. I have had it for a while purchasing it, for I think, just £30. I did however strike up the barrel and had it re-browned so that added a little to the cost. It was when striking it up that the mystery began to unr...

It's sad in a way that guns here have gone down in value. Good for me collecting but bad as an investment. I logged in to a local auction site the other day: Lanber O'U 12 bore with slip, cartridge belt, cleaning kit etc. Estimate £80 -£100 remained unsold so anyone's for the low estimate or near of...

I can post this knowing you won't have seen it before because I only bought it last week. As you may recall that I collect locally made guns from Derby. Charles Rosson was the most prolific and he had two sons; Percy James and Charles Stanley. The latter son then took over the former business of Edw...

Just to add. The Star crimped cartridge is the only example I have ever come across. The pink one was made for Holland & Holland. The one bottom left was the type made post 1952 and they are now made in plastic cases.

To answer a few questions. The gun was made for Nitro loads. I use a small charge of a fast burning powder called Vectan AS. It's French so maybe not available your side. Red Dot can be used but gives an indifferent burn and Bullseye is a bit too fast. Felt wads throughout and roll crimped. Snap cap...

Here is something else I have dug out from the gun cabinet; a 2 inch chambered 12 bore box-lock ejector by J. & W.Tolley of Birmingham. These guns were a fashion in the 1930's and intended for the 'Older Gentleman' who desired a 12 bore but firing a more gentle cartridge. Most of the box-lock ac...

I remember many years ago getting hold of one of those old bolt action Marlin goose guns with the enormously long barrels and doing it up just for fun. I passed it on so can't remember what happened to it. Never used in anger and just shot a few clays with it to see how it performed.

My selection. Less than 10 because the b....ds stopped us having handguns. .22 rim-fire. A.22 centre fire; I have a .22/250 A good all round deer rifle; I use a 7x64mm. although a .308 would be a good alternative. A .375 H&H Magnum (because I have one which is good for large deer coupled with 23...

Thanks. I did have to part with a few guns from my collection to be able to buy this one when the chance came up. Too good to miss! I'd never be able to afford a new one. Here you are; Holland's have a pre-owned pair for sale. This is what I mean by the 3rd. model with the hand detachable locks. Don...

Thought it about time I posted something that may be of interest. This time one of my favourite guns from when I go shooting woodpigeon. This is a double 12 bore by Holland & Holland of London. The model is the 'Holland & Holland Royal Hammerless Ejector' and was made at the turn of the last...

I don't know for sure Freezer but I would suspect so. Sorry for the poor quality of the pictures. Anyone interested in older guns would do well to try to get a copy of Donald Dallas's book on Charles Gordon. Very interesting with a wealth of pictures of Gordon's guns plus a detailed list of prices p...

I thought I would better post something having been absent for a while so I chose these two. The upper gun is a double 14 bore muzzle loader by John Dickson of Edinburgh. The serial number puts it as being made in 1853. Dickson's are still in business and making guns but have relocated from Edinburg...

I was always taught to get as close as you can and then a bit closer. I suppose the advantage in the U.K. is that when I am stalking a deer then I am the only one in that area after that deer and there is no competition as the ground is private and I have the necessary permission. I used to go to Sc...

Sounds like you need a good mole catcher. Trouble is it's too far for me to come.

Well, sort of. I do quite a bit of mole catching for people locally who have a problem. I caught this one yesterday which is a very rare variant. I've never seen one before and unlikely to again. Currently in the freezer with a view to a visit to a taxidermist.