Westley Richards 1888 12 bore SXS

[Red Leg]

If I regret anything in life it is this, that I did not go to England when young (when I could have) to learn the trade. It is a daunting thing to take on all by oneself. Hence, I focus on a falling block single loader of my own design (having taken the best from a few of the English designs, and rolled it into one).

Got to know old Jack Rowe fairly well many years ago when I first embarked on this madness. I purchased a "bargain" Charles Osborne game gun with a lot off little issues. Over about a year, I would drive from Lawton, OK to Enid and each time he would do a bit more. Told me wonderful stories about the trade, and offered lots of advice about which guns were prizes and which to avoid - pretty much hated all things Italian

Do you market your falling blocks?

 

[CTDolan]

I do not market my rifles. The work I've done has all been for my own benefit, and that of a few people whom I've known over the years. It (the falling block) all began when I wanted a 600 NE (which became a 577 NE), and kinda snowballed from there.

With regard to makes, I've never been a fan of the Italian brands myself. They (along with Spanish makes, each of which have striven to mimic the English aesthetic) can be spotted from a mile away.

By the way, while on the subject, neither am I a fan of Verney Carron (which seems to get a lot of attention around this place), nor the other European makers apart from Hartman & Weiss (whose work is every bit as good as anything from the English side). It's not that I do not like the other makes, only that I do not consider them to be in the same league (so says one who cannot afford any, even the cheap stuff).