Feltwad

If your intentions to make a collection of antique guns from the flintlock to the early breech loaders now is the time to buy because todays prices of these guns are at a very low price . Feltwad

Well My mistake I now see it is a percussion muzzle loader and is classed has a antique but like all antiques which do not need a licence but you want to use it then it must be entered on your licence but extra large bore size does come into it to use . Before lead shot for wildfowling was banned some muzzle loading fowling guns up to four bore were entered on shotgun licence for a short period for fowling holiday and then returned to antique status. Feltwad

You do not say if it is a muzzle loader or a breech loader and if it is black powder or nitro proof Feltwad

Just interested. did the Muzzle Loaders attend this year Sandringham Game Fair the same company Living Heritage did organise a Country Fair at Raby Castle Co Durham in 2009 , 10,and 11 .Here the muzzle loaders stand was well supported both shooting plus a static display of weapons . This show improved each year then it suddenly stopped after just three years sadly not another game fair has started in the North East to my knowledge Feltwad

Some of the exhibits in the Countryside tent in 2023 Feltwad

There will be no Countryside Tent at this years Wolsingham show the 7 and 8th September owing to the person who runs it been in poor health and no volunteer coming forward This tent is well represented by country sports with shooting and hunting exhibits and attracted up to 10-15 thousand of the public through the tent to a lot of people it will be a big miss. Feltwad

The top rib needs taken off and relaying because it s not seating properly and allowing water to enter the barrels Also the barrel muzzle ends are not a good job and not regulated Feltwad

Prices were up at this sale I bit on two lots in the percussion guns in the Sealed Bids both sold for nearly twice the estimate price Feltwad

Welcome from a fellow northerner from Co Durham. If you interested in clays there are several clay clubs if interested in gun heritage there is a muzzle loading branch Feltwad

The upper reaches of Wear dale and Teesdale is where grouse driving first began prior to that it was walking up shooting over pointers and setters I prefer this it was best at the beginning of the season before birds became too wild especially if I was using a muzzle loader Feltwad

Ok if you are able to attend a sale but if you live too far away and have to bid online this can more than double the price .A commission bid will be from 30% to 35% with saleroom and a bit less with easy live To find a carrier is a nightmare leaving only the top ones it will be £100 + over the Scottish border it can be more .Sending to a RFD can also be costly Feltwad

Enclosed is a image of a unusual pinfire it is Continental 410 shotgun for 2 inch cartridge when the barrel is slide forward from the action it is ejected from the action Feltwad

There can be no doubt that the pinfire breech opening shotgun was the birth of the centre fire hammer shotgun we know today , after a short period for English gun making approximately 30 years it became more for the centre fire breech loader which saw many converted to centre fire also a lot of different pinfire opening patents were used on the centre fire . Pinfires were still made by the continental makers with 16 bore the most common for many decades and were still made in the middle of the 1900,s Some of the many pinfire opening patents that were used for centre fire breech loaders were th Joan's underlever, Needhams side lever, Erskines slide and tilt opener, Jefferies side opening barrels and many more , enclosed are some images of these Feltwad

If you take the image of a stand of hammer guns at the beginning of this thread all have been nitro reproofed after a full restoration of action tighten barrels lapped and a general clean saving the heritage of a Damascus hammer gun . I still believe that the gun trade re sleeve most Damascus barrels unnecessary destroying its Damascus heritage Feltwad

Once the old hammer gun was the most used gun by all walks of life its downfall came with the law that all guns had to be in a gun cabinet, then with the cabinet costing more than the guns were worth thousands went to the furnace and with it died the art of the Damascus barrel some thing we will never see made again . Those that did survive were mostly the top London and Birmingham makers and to make it worse the gun trade said that Damascus barrels were dangerous so most were sleeved and restocked I have handled guns over and over again where the owners believed I have a old Purdy, Boss, Lancaster gun but the only original part is the action That is one of the reasons why today the hammer gun is bringing more than the box lock Feltwad