Review by Jim Dickson
British Gunmakers of the 21st Century is a 136 page 10&1/8” X 11&3/4” book listing most of the Best Quality gunmakers in the British Isles with their current data and contact information.
The photographs are large and impressive color shots showing the artistry and beauty of these handmade guns. It gives a clear picture of what the gun trade is doing at this time.
Just as the Americans are a nation of riflemen the British are a nation of shotgunners and they have taken the shotgun to its highest form in their classic side by side 12 bore game gun which they individually stock to the shooter to a sixteenth of an inch in all directions so that the gun unerringly points exactly where the shooter is looking. You bring the gun up as levelly as possible without rocking the butt and muzzle up and down while your whole body turns to track the bird. The muzzles are pointed at the bird at all times and as soon as the gun is cheeked you fire without ever seeing the barrels. If the gun is properly fitted to you and your form is correct a hit is certain. There is no gun that is easier to hit with than the classic SXS game gun with straight stock and splinter fore end.
These handmade guns last almost forever. There is a saying in the gun trade that you buy a Best Quality gun for your grandchildren because they will still be using it. Their unmatched reliability is the reason that the Victorian explorers chose Best Quality double rifles and shotguns to explore darkest Africa and the remote regions of the world where there are no gunsmiths to fix anything that breaks.
The beauty of these handmade guns ranks at the highest levels of functional art and the pride of ownership of having a handmade masterpiece that often took over two thousand hours of the highest level of skilled hand work to make is reason enough in itself to want to own one. They are called Best guns because they are the best that human beings can make and that money can buy. Every true gun lover deserves one.
This book was done in association with Holt’s Auctioneers, the largest gun only auction house in the British Isles. Located on the Queen’s private estate at Sandringham they enjoy a spotless reputation. An American shooter can engage the owner, Nick Holt, to represent him at Holt’s auctions and purchase a suitable gun for his use.
Holt’s can also arrange to have the new gun restocked or its stock altered to the new owner’s measurements before shipping it to him in the U.S. Of course you would have to supply them with the results of your gun fitting which can be obtained when you take a shooting lesson at the West London Shooting School or one of the gunmakers. Nick said I could print his cell number for interested parties. It is 011-447-831-431-591.
At this time it is possible to get a used British shotgun, either box lock or sidelock, with or without ejectors, in the $1000-$5000 range. This probably won’t last so this is an excellent time to buy.
Cost of the book is $125 which includes shipping to the U.S. It is available from:
Holt’s Auctioneers of Fine Modern and Antique Guns
Church Farm Barns
Wolverton, Norfolk PE31 6 HA
England
011-441-485-542-822
