Pole Star Posted July 29, 2011 Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 The second-hand rack at the dealers is always far more interesting than the 'new' one. Me too ! I always go for the second hand rack , & if I can I ask whats out the back you just never know what you might find . It makes me feel Howard Carter breaking into a new tomb ! WHATS IN HERE !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpowder Posted July 29, 2011 Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 I am the proud owner of three vintage shotguns and can find nothing appealing about a modern brand new gun. First is my Army and Navy hammer gun, owned for more than fifty years now, purchased for £15 from a gamekeeper aquaintance. This was my only used gun for 30 years or more, I have spent 3d which is 1 1/2 pence in new money on a new nipple spring, a bit of head space is now making for excessive recoil or it would still be seeing more use at pigeon. Number two is a Robert Hughes of Birmingham box lock non ejector with rather nice damascus barrels , tight as drum and bought a few years ago for £25 as a second gun. Reputedly the original owner had used this gun in Africa for every thing from quail to lions, I say reputedly as this information is third hand to me. Number three, my most used gun is a Pape boxlock hamerless ejector, Pape were known as , 'the Purdey of the North ' and I believe built their best guns as boxlocks. This Pape is extremely pointable, if that is the expression, it seems light, but recoil is not excessive, the balance is perfect and comes to the shoulder as handy as some of the 20 bores of modern construction I have handled. Between them these guns must average around 90 years old, rich in patina and history, I would swap none of them for the most recent products of european or far eastern factories. Blackpowder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imissalot Posted July 29, 2011 Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 one of my ambitions when i applied for my cert was to collect old guns just not got the spare cash but one day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pole Star Posted July 30, 2011 Report Share Posted July 30, 2011 one of my ambitions when i applied for my cert was to collect old guns just not got the spare cash but one day If you go the extra mile & beg borrow or steal ! the money & buy carefully you cant really go wrong , & dont be afraid of the London auction rooms you can get some good buys there . Not only are the big auction rooms full of collectors they are also full of dealers looking to make a few pounds , if you get a mo just go for the look & see whats there & you will be amazed at the room full of old guns , its a real sweet shop !. If you fall on hard times you can always sell the gun on & you should make a nice profit , but generally avoid the dealers as they are the ones making the profit & its you who is paying it !. I bought a cracking Edward Whistler double 8b & a 20 flintlock double at Bonhams some years back & my mates thought I was bonkers !, the funny thing is they all want to buy off me now at the prices I paid for em ! sly ******* !. Go to the viewing see what you like then put a price in your mind & stick to it never go over it & never go over the top end of the guide price unless you know what your doing . Good luck Pole Star ps & dont tell the wife ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fat_jay Posted July 30, 2011 Report Share Posted July 30, 2011 This is my Dad's old favourite, lovely old thing with beutiful slender 30" barrels, choked full and fuller, comes to the shoulder like nothing else in the cabinet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hitclays Posted July 30, 2011 Report Share Posted July 30, 2011 This is my Dad's old favourite, lovely old thing with beutiful slender 30" barrels, choked full and fuller, comes to the shoulder like nothing else in the cabinet did he use it at my shoot last weekend dont remember seeing it Jay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pole Star Posted July 30, 2011 Report Share Posted July 30, 2011 This is my Dad's old favourite, lovely old thing with beutiful slender 30" barrels, choked full and fuller, comes to the shoulder like nothing else in the cabinet THATS MY BOY ! JUST THE THING FOR THE JOB ! WHY THE HELL DO PEOPLE BUY 5 SHOT POGO STICKS TO SHOOT WITH ! ???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fat_jay Posted July 30, 2011 Report Share Posted July 30, 2011 did he use it at my shoot last weekend dont remember seeing it Jay Looking at his score Alan, he may have done better if he had used it!! (not that mine was great!) Great shoot by the way, we both really enjoyed it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hitclays Posted July 30, 2011 Report Share Posted July 30, 2011 (edited) Looking at his score Alan, he may have done better if he had used it!! (not that mine was great!) Great shoot by the way, we both really enjoyed it the winner got 94 :o he couldnt have been to far away Edited July 30, 2011 by hitclays Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imissalot Posted July 31, 2011 Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 If you go the extra mile & beg borrow or steal ! the money & buy carefully you cant really go wrong , & dont be afraid of the London auction rooms you can get some good buys there . Not only are the big auction rooms full of collectors they are also full of dealers looking to make a few pounds , if you get a mo just go for the look & see whats there & you will be amazed at the room full of old guns , its a real sweet shop !. If you fall on hard times you can always sell the gun on & you should make a nice profit , but generally avoid the dealers as they are the ones making the profit & its you who is paying it !. I bought a cracking Edward Whistler double 8b & a 20 flintlock double at Bonhams some years back & my mates thought I was bonkers !, the funny thing is they all want to buy off me now at the prices I paid for em ! sly ******* !. Go to the viewing see what you like then put a price in your mind & stick to it never go over it & never go over the top end of the guide price unless you know what your doing . Good luck Pole Star ps & dont tell the wife ! cheers for that going to london in a few months ill have to find when and were it is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted July 31, 2011 Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 This is my Dad's old favourite, lovely old thing with beutiful slender 30" barrels, choked full and fuller, comes to the shoulder like nothing else in the cabinet Mine looks exactly like that but my hammers don't match, it's got a bit of a headache, doesn't look as well looked after, the barrels are not 30" long anymore cos I couldn't hit owt and it was made in Spain. I still like my gun and still use it regularly, had 2 pigeon and a rabbit the night before last. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pole Star Posted August 8, 2011 Report Share Posted August 8, 2011 cheers for that going to london in a few months ill have to find when and were it is If your in London on the 23rd of November then Bonhams will be having the Modern Sporting Gun , Riles & vintage Firearm sale . You might need a catalog to get entry wich are avaliable 2 or 3 weeks befor the sale , I am not sure if you can buy em at the door . You should be able to see the catalog on line if you google it up . If its muzzle loaders you want then its not that sale , its the Antique Arms & Armour sale you will need to look at , not sure of the dates for that though . Good Luck . Pole Star . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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