VINTAGE BRITISH SHOTGUNS: A SHOOTING SPORTSMAN GUIDE

VINTAGE BRITISH SHOTGUNS: A SHOOTING SPORTSMAN GUIDE Fine shotguns have been made in England & Scotland for more than a century, & many have been imported to the U.S. as new & vintage guns. British gunmakers include distinguished, established firms as well as hundreds of lesser-known makers, including small, specialized operations.Author, hunter, & journalist Terry Wieland is the man to explore the growing interest in British-made shotguns. He has created an authoritative guide that looks at individual makers, their products, & the selling points of particular guns. In some cases he also notes negative points or product limitations. While the book will be welcomed by gun collectors world-wide, it is particularly useful to those who are curious about British makers whose production was or is substantial enough that their guns would have crossed the pond into North America.ABOUT THE AUTHOR:TERRY WIELAND is the shooting editor of Grays Sporting Journal, a field editor for Sports Afield, & a frequent contributor to Shooting Sportsman & several other magazines. He also has served as a journalist on several war fronts. He has hunted widely, taking many safaris in Africa. When he is not on assignment or safari, Wieland lives in Fenton, Missouri.SUSAN NORRIS is a painter & sculptor who lives in Raton, New Mexico. A professional painter for more than 30 years, she has serious interests in wingshooting, big-game hunting, & horseback endurance riding. Her experiences as a hunter & rider have provided a wide variety of material for her paintings & sculpture.ContentsForewordIntroductionPart One: History & Technicalities1. From Manton: The English Trade. How Britain developed a tradition of fine guns.2. Worlds Apart -- London & Birmingham. Different approaches to gunmaking.3. Essentially English. Elements of the game gun; Scott spindle, etc.4. The Hammer Gun. Types & notable makers.5. Sidelocks. How developed, the major types, technical aspects (5-pvs. 7-pin); Chilton, Stanton, & Brazier.6. Boxlocks. Anson & Deeley, Gibbs & Pitts, etc.7. Bolting Systems. Purdey underlugs, dolls heads, Greener crossbolts, etc.8. Over/Unders. Notable examples.9. Damascus Barrels. Types of Damascus, notes on use.10. English Proof & Proof Marks. An outline; London & Birmingham proof houses.11. In Proof & Out. Outline of current British law regarding proof status.12. Chambers & Chamber Length. 2, 2_, 2 5/8, etc.13. Nitro versus Blackpowder. Smokeless & black.14. Buying a Vintage Gun. Things to be aware of, things to look for, things to avoid.15. Crossing the Pond. Going there, instead of buying here.Part Two: Guns & GunmakersArmy & NavyAspreyHenry AtkinFrederick BeesleyBentley & PlayfairBirmingham Small Arms (BSA)BlanchThomas BlandC.G. BonehillBoss & Co.Charles BoswellA.A. Brown & SonsDavid McKay BrownWilliam CashmoreE.J. ChurchillGeorge CosterJohn DicksonJames ErskineWilliam EvansCogswell & HarrisonAlex. HenryGeorge GibbsWilliam GoldenStephen GrantW.W. GreenerHolland & HollandIsaac HollisW.J. JefferyCharles LancasterJoseph LangLang & HusseyJames MacNaughtonMantonAlexander MartinMidland Gun CompanyWilliam MortimerPeter NelsonWilliam PowellJames Purdey & SonsE.M. Reilly & Co.John Rigby & Co.W. & C. ScottJ. & W. TolleyVickersWanless BrothersWatson BrothersP. WebleyWebley & ScottWestley Richards & Co.John WilkesWilliamson & SonJames WoodwardOdd Names (Giles Whatsis, Symes & Wright, etc.) One-offs, etc.Gone Yesterday, Back Today (Sort Of)Outline of whos back & how that worksBibliographyIndexExcerptFrom the Foreword, by Michael McIntoshOf all the world's great gun trades, none is more fascinating than the one that evolved in Britain beginning about 1800, kicked into high gear in the 1850s, & became the world standard by 1900. The modern game gun as we know it is a British invention. The British didn't invent all the concepts, but they certainly perfected the form & established a level of craftsmanship that now is the standard by which guns are judged worldwide.... ISBN: 0-89272-774-8 publish date: 12/01/2008