UNITED KINGDOM: Roe In Scotland & Gun Rooms In England

[Tintin]

Just back from a UK trip.

Aside from the magnificent scenery of the Cotwsolds and the Lake District, the first AH worthy activity was a long-awaited visit to Westley Richards. Time had got away from me a bit with other sightseeing, and I’d neglected to email them to arrange a tour until quite late on the day prior to our arrival. Despite this, and despite the low likelihood of my ever ordering one of their fine rifles or guns, we very warmly welcomed and spent a most enjoyable couple of hours there, chatting with their retail manager (who hosted us), stockers, engravers, actioners and others, including the leather / canvas work folks.

All were incredibly generous with their time. I must apologise to any here who have orders in with Westleys - our visit no doubt had a less than positive impact on your delivery times.

We were also shown their in house photography studio, home to two full time photographers whose work many on here would be familiar with. I cannot recommend highly enough a visit If anyone finds themselves in the UK.

Their retail space was a delight.

Now, I'm not in the habit of commenting on such things, but even the toilets were noteworthy, with an old local chap we met there telling us that he had never seen a washroom wall with so many dead tiger photos.

Among others, I handled a magnificent .577 Nitro double, that was suitably weighty and incredibly ornate creations fit for a king, prince or sultan. One in particular stood out for it’s intricate enamelled side plates.

^ The legendary former manager of their Bond Street premises, a “rough cut gem from Ealing”, William Bishop aka the Bishop of Bond Street. We weere told the bones of his beloved dog are still on hand at Westleys.

We then headed North to Scotland, staying at a great property in Dumfries - they offered clay shooting and fly fishing in a very peaceful, picturesque setting, right on the River Nith.

We wished we could stay there longer, but there were sights to see in Edinburgh and deer to chase in the border district of Berwickshire.

More to follow.

 

[Tintin]

Edinburgh is full of great sights and rich history, and with a good does of that taken in, it was down to the border district for a spot of Roe stalking. Earlier in the trip, we’d stayed with friends whose local pub I took as a good omen.

As we drove in to our hunting spot just before 0400, we had a doe and buck break cover and take off as we - another good sign ... or had we just spooked the only deer in the area?

It was a first for me hunting this far North in the summer with the long days it bought. We had solid hunting light shortly after 0400.

After a short stalk, we spotted a decent, though only 4 point, buck at about 60m. We froze, waiting for him to present broadside, as he did the rifle barked - well as much barking as a suppressed .223 can muster - and the mighty, game stopping, Scottish legal for Roe 55gn V-Max hit true.

It was only 0420. After dressing him, and driving back to our lodgings, I was back in bed before the bride was even stirring for the day.

More to follow.

 

[Tintin]

Had another outing arranged for that evening, again making the most of the long summer days. Again spotted a buck on the way in, very preoccupied with a doe. The rut is still a little way off, but the local consensus was that the warm weather was producing a ‘false rut’.

The signs were good on the drive in.

The stalk was underway in some nice country, a bit too nice a view, in a moment of me doing an all around scan, I’d missed my guide freeze, my freezing was too little, too late and we busted - I caught a glimpse of Roe bum finding safety in thick cover.

A chance to make good my poor performance eventually presented itself, passing through an opening in a hedgerow, I spotted a 6 point buck at about 70 metres. The wind was good, I gave a low whistle to the guide, he froze, but the buck was now not liking something and clocked us before I could get a shot.

So close.

With light and optimism now fading and some self kicking on my part, for not having capitalised what should have been good opportunities - we make a plan to work along a fringe strip, where woods met an open area.

I caught the slightest of movements. Eventually the movement morphed into a 5 point buck, blissfully unaware of our presence, foraging at 150 metres out. Sticks up, a suppressed pop, deer down.

My 33 year old guide was almost incredulous that my old, bespectacled eyes had spotted him.
What followed was one of those quick discussions, where the question and the answer are one and the same.

“Redemption?”

“Redemption.”

With redemption earned, and a few more castles visited, we headed South to the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds. Some very interesting exhibits, that we lacked the time to completely take in. Well worth a visit.

More to follow.

 

[Javaman]

Super cool, thanks for sharing!

 

[SRvet]

Was the Roebuck pub just north of Preston by any chance?

 

[Tintin]

Was the Roebuck pub just north of Preston by any chance?

No - the one I saw was in Wiltshire.

I reckon there might be a few pubs by that name about

 

[Tintin]

Spent the evening with friends in Wiltshire and expereinced another first, Muntjac barking in the woods just beyond the back fence and then had them walking through the backyard while we breakfasted the next morning.

London gun rooms were next, kicking off with Purdeys. My contact there had liaised with me on timing to ensure I got into the Long Room as it was is use for a number of functions while we were in London.

What a special place that is. So much rich history, I was chuffed to see a photo of a champion 1930s shotgun shooter who was from my home state of Tasmania and had a close relationship with Mr Purdey back in the day.

I was incredibly fortunate to have as my host Dr Nick Harlow, whose historical knowledge was most impressive, nay, awe-inspiring and he was extremely generous with his time.

I asked questions about Purdey's war effort production and he showed me book he’d written on that very subject, detailing mostly WW1 production of a range of Lewis gun accessories and battery powered night sights for early fighter aircraft.

Some other memorable pieces in the collection, including a functioning, firing 1:6 scale shotgun made for King George V along with a training spotter gun, whose right barrel contains a battery powered lamp that projects a light beam onto a wall - a visionary forerunner of today’s $5 eBay laser cartridges I guess. This gun had also been built for King George V to help him pass the time during a period of convalescence.

My few meagre photos and clumsy prose can't begin to do justice to the experience, if anyone has even half a chance for a visit, my advice would be to make it happen.

The retail space was, of course, impeccably laid out with an array of the classiest attire and accessories.

After picking up a small momento of my visit, along with some copies of The Purdey Post, I was on my way from Mayfair to St James for Holland and Holland. Another retail expereince masterpiece downstairs, along with the Beretta Gallery.

But the real magic is in the gunroom on the 3rd floor, housing an impressive collection of fine firearms. My tour, hosted by Charlie and Theo started with the .700 Nitro - Pure. Stopping. Power.

Some notable highlights for me included some absolutely magnificent double rifles and a beautiful, but practical .400 H&H magazine rifle.

Upon reviewing my photos, it seems I was too 'present' in the moment to capture enough images to convey the richness of the experience. Again the staff were very generous with their time and extremely welcoming.

William Evans was next, just down St James St, whilst not making in their own right anymore, but with such a rich history it was a great visit with Patrick, his experience with both makers and auction houses made for a most enjoyable conversation that extended well beyond closing time. Yet another instance of gracious generosity with time.

Wm Evans also had an excellent range of clothing and accessories with plenty of options for a nice souvenir.

The next day saw me at Rigbys, they are shortly moving from their current location, which is in a more humble part of London than the previous makers I’d visited, but still plenty to see between historical pieces such as Colonel Corbett’s .275 and this Dublin era piece that was used by a farmer to fend off poachers during the potato famine.

They are however, the only London maker I visited to have workshops co-located with their gun room and I met staff in the different workshop areas, the engravers were producing especially special work, including this falling block. Again, it was a pleasure to chat with the team about their backgrounds and projects.

They had just received some Big Game barrelled actions in 458 Lott, a new chambering for them. and I also saw a few of the 250th special edition rifles being worked on, some of which are still available. As Westley Richards, it was heartening to see an imoressive young production team, the future looks to be in good hands for a long time to come.

The Rigby visit was the also the culmination of a project I’d been working on. I’d laser engraved a Kangaroo skin for their 250th Anniversary that then travelled to various corners of the country, getting as many Aussie Rigby owners to sign it as I could, which I presented to Marc at the end of my visit.

Marc and the team were chuffed and there are plans afoot to have if framed and displayed in the new premises.

I picked up my copy (no 210 of 250) of thee Rigby Resurrection book, duly signed by Marc, Dig and quite a few of the team.

With the gunroom phase of the trip at an end, it was back to regular sightseeing. (Plenty of those pics if anyone is interested).