London gun rooms

[Alistair]

And so shall they go the way of Abercrombie&Fitch eventually

They might, but I doubt it. I too have done the tours, easier for me perhaps being based in the UK. All 3 of the big british names are drifting in the direction of 'lifestyle' brands, but talking to the people, the history and the firearems are still very much the passion. They might eventually end up in the position of ferrari, the lifestyle accessories paying much of the bills, sure, but the primary focus still being, as they always were, the cars, or in this case, the guns.

As long as people still appreciate the history, the romance, the story, they remain desirable, and as long as they are, a small subset of the customers will one day purchase one, and that's what it's all about. For what it's worth, I one day hope to be one of them.

There aren't many british brands that remain desirable on the world stage as the very best of the best, but I don't see any of these three losing that in my lifetime, and I hope, long after that...

 

[Bullthrower338]

Well H&H was bought by Chanel quite a while ago, so that's the reason for lots of clothing and those sort of accessories.

I have always preferred the smell of a lady doused with Hoppes No.9 over one wearing Chanel No.7!

 

[Albert GRANT]

They might, but I doubt it. I too have done the tours, easier for me perhaps being based in the UK. All 3 of the big british names are drifting in the direction of 'lifestyle' brands, but talking to the people, the history and the firearems are still very much the passion. They might eventually end up in the position of ferrari, the lifestyle accessories paying much of the bills, sure, but the primary focus still being, as they always were, the cars, or in this case, the guns.

As long as people still appreciate the history, the romance, the story, they remain desirable, and as long as they are, a small subset of the customers will one day purchase one, and that's what it's all about. For what it's worth, I one day hope to be one of them.

There aren't many british brands that remain desirable on the world stage as the very best of the best, but I don't see any of these three losing that in my lifetime, and I hope, long after that...

Hopefully you are right!

 

[thi9elsp]

Thank you for sharing. I'll be visiting London in October as part of a group tour with my wife. If I'm able to get a few hours to myself, can I just show up and look around or is it better to contact them? Understand that their firearms are not in my budget but would love to see them. We were in Prague a few years back and I found the local CZ shop and looked at a few guns and then bought a couple clothing items. It would be a cool experience to add the London's best to that check list. Also, does Westley Richards or William Evans have a presence in London?

 

[sierraone]

Thank you for sharing. I'll be visiting London in October as part of a group tour with my wife. If I'm able to get a few hours to myself, can I just show up and look around or is it better to contact them? Understand that their firearms are not in my budget but would love to see them. We were in Prague a few years back and I found the local CZ shop and looked at a few guns and then bought a couple clothing items. It would be a cool experience to add the London's best to that check list. Also, does Westley Richards or William Evans have a presence in London?

Westley Richards is in Birmingham, a little over an hour train ride north. William Evans is on St. James St. #67 I believe, and close to the Beretta Gallery and not far from Purdy and Holland.

 

[WAB]

They might, but I doubt it. I too have done the tours, easier for me perhaps being based in the UK. All 3 of the big british names are drifting in the direction of 'lifestyle' brands, but talking to the people, the history and the firearems are still very much the passion. They might eventually end up in the position of ferrari, the lifestyle accessories paying much of the bills, sure, but the primary focus still being, as they always were, the cars, or in this case, the guns.

As long as people still appreciate the history, the romance, the story, they remain desirable, and as long as they are, a small subset of the customers will one day purchase one, and that's what it's all about. For what it's worth, I one day hope to be one of them.

There aren't many british brands that remain desirable on the world stage as the very best of the best, but I don't see any of these three losing that in my lifetime, and I hope, long after that...

Curious who you put in there as the third with H&H and Purdey? Rigby, Boss, William Evans, Westley Richards? I would be hard pressed to pick one although, having a new Rigby in the safe, they may get the nod...

 

[Alistair]

Curious who you put in there as the third with H&H and Purdey? Rigby, Boss, William Evans, Westley Richards? I would be hard pressed to pick one although, having a new Rigby in the safe, they may get the nod...

I was thinking Boss, although Rigby sits on the same level to my mind. William Evans has slightly cheapened their brand through the production of the cheaper grade guns with Perazzi and another firm, although I'd be hard pressed to say that the quality of the in house pieces has lessened. Westley Richards also make fantastic pieces, but as far as a brand goes, they haven't quite got the cache of H&H or Purdey, although again, the quality of the work is comparable.

 

[wesheltonj]

I believe that both Westley Richards and Rigby are moving into the "lifestyle" goods. Westley Richards is getting to the "magazine" business with The Explora.

 

[mdwest]

after reading this thread I am kicking myself in the butt right now..

Im headed to Saudi Arabia later this week for work.. finding return flights to the US was a serious PIA this time around (Im guessing the end of Ramadan is influencing it?).. the best options available involved either a 9 hour layover in London.. or an 11 hour layover in Dublin.. both landing in those respective cities in the AM (so I would have all day to leave the airport, tool around in town for a little while, and then return without much trouble)..

When I made my decision, my thoughts were Dublin is smaller and easier to navigate.. and I've spent a lot of time in London over the years, but have never seen Dublin.. so Ill take the longer layover and go tour the Jamison distillery, and have a room temperature guiness somewhere, etc..

Going and checking out a couple of London gun rooms didnt even cross my mind (even though I have told myself several times over the years thats something I would like to do).. That would have been far more fun than Jamison..

 

[Alistair]

Dublin is a fun town as well to be fair. Jameson I haven't visited, but I've heard good things. Guiness do a factory tour I think (at least they did 5 years ago) and they have a cool little bar called the Open Gate taproom (Link: https://www.guinnessopengate.com/) where they do a range of slightly out there experimental brews. Well worth an hour to visit if you've time to kill.

Architecture is good as well, the Uni site is pretty in a Cambridge-esque kind of way.

 

[WAB]

Be sure to hit Temple Bar. Also, there is a great little distillery right across from Guinness. It is a refurbished church with a glass steeple. The little pub next door is theirs. Try the Pearse Lyons Reserve.

 

[kevin masters]

incredible pictures, thanks for sharing!
one more place for the bucket list,lol.

 

[jcinsa]

Thanks for sharing everyone !
We will be in London in September visiting our daughter, and now can’t wait to see the homes of those iconic brands !