quote:

Originally posted by cal pappas:
As much as I treasure my Wilkes .600,, the animals engraved on the action look like a kid did them--during a severe earthquake--in the dark--whilst having a seizure. Maybe a wooly bear with pigs ears and a rhino horn (?). The elephant is OK I guess. Cats, I think they are. Maybe Shootaway was correct after all--they are just garbage.
Cal

Cal,

I did not realize you have seen some of my masterwork!

Your description is very accurate!

Beautiful rifles Paul, Mike!

Rusty, well your rifle is beautiful and so is Mike's. I especially like the tigers on yours. Mine is petty plain Jane next to those two rifles. But is sure is a helluva good rifle.

While we are showing off examples of the finest manifestations of the engraver's art known to man, here are some pictures of my Boswell. As you see on the trigger guard, I believe that at one point there was a leopard engraved there. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) that is long ago worn off.

Mike, that is very nice; these rifles just exude the adventure of India back in the day.

The Boswell was made in 1909 and shipped to India to a gentleman that was in the British civil service in India at the time. The rifle is well worn, a little "tired" as Jim Gallagher (470Evans) described it, but I do wonder what stories it might be able to tell if it could. On a recent Under Wild Skies show Tony Makris was hunting with a Paradox double. He made the statement that in his view, these old rifles had a "soul". Perhaps not the best analogy but I understood exactly what he was trying to say.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
The Boswell was made in 1909 and shipped to India to a gentleman that was in the British civil service in India at the time. The rifle is well worn, a little "tired" as Jim Gallagher (470Evans) described it, but I do wonder what stories it might be able to tell if it could. On a recent Under Wild Skies show Tony Makris was hunting with a Paradox double. He made the statement that in his view, these old rifles had a "soul". Perhaps not the best analogy but I understood exactly what he was trying to say.

Just like my Searcy.It has a soul too!

I think the word you are looking for is not soul but rather poltergeist.

Nevertheless, your Boswell is a nice old rifle..and the rigth caliber too...

Mike, just a guess probably is/was a Tiger. Calcutta gun? My buddy, David Powell has referred to the engraving as "cartoon characters" for the last 30 years. No offense whatsoever intended. It was the style of the day in India.

quote:

Originally posted by DoubleDon:
Mike, just a guess probably is/was a Tiger. Calcutta gun? My buddy, David Powell has referred to the engraving as "cartoon characters" for the last 30 years. No offense whatsoever intended. It was the style of the day in India.

You are 100% correct, I meant to say tiger and said leopard. Yes, I think it was an engraving of a tiger.

The ledger book says it was delivered to Mr. H. Turner Esq, I.C.S. c/o P. Orr & Sons in Madras India. Cost was 30 Guineas. The delivery date was July 23, 1907.

Good stuff

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
I think the word you are looking for is not soul but rather poltergeist.

I normally do not comment about shootaway, but that is damn funny. And it is funny because there is an element of truth.

Are you gents saying Shootaway needs an exorcism?
Cal

Cal, I believe you are dangerously close to the truth now....

I have not been to church in a long time.Do you think the dark has got to me?Do you think there is a curse?

quote:

Originally posted by cal pappas:
Are you gents saying Shootaway needs an exorcism?
Cal

Is that like a sex change?

Exorcism. Circumcision. Maybe both. (He needs a front sight protector for his beloved double).
Cal

quote:

Originally posted by cal pappas:
Exorcism. Circumcision. Maybe both. (He needs a front sight protector for his beloved double).
Cal

..you forgot gender reassignment...:LOL

We could name him Kaitlyn Shootfaraway....

I seem to recall India treating the old doubles of the Maharajas as national treasures and in fact were pursuing those exported without a valid permit. I would talk to Westley Richards about this. A few years back I purchased double rifles from Westley which came from India. I was told that care should be taken buying doubles from India without proper paperwork.

quote:

Originally posted by LJS:
I seem to recall India treating the old doubles of the Maharajas as national treasures and in fact were pursuing those exported without a valid permit. I would talk to Westley Richards about this. A few years back I purchased double rifles from Westley which came from India. I was told that care should be taken buying doubles from India without proper paperwork.

I doubt any doubles are national treasures.

The english gun makers went back and bought a lot of doubles to soak up the market before this second birth of double rifles.

Doubles traded for nothing for a long time as legal hunting ended and a double rifle makes a terrible gun to use poaching at night with a spot light.

Mike

After WW2 and particularly in the 60s, the availability of good ammo became a problem for double rifles. H&H in particular went to India and bought a lot of their rifles at real cheap prices and sold them at a big profit. There was an interview with the H&H President in an old Double Gun digest about this issue.

I have heard that a double could be bought in the India in the 60s for $50 or so! A used 30 year old Webley & Scott shot gun would have cost $100+ at that time.

In 1992 I was offered an Army & Navy 450/400 hammer rifle in very tidy condition with full license history and hand written info of animals shot for $320. I did not have the time to spend chasing the paper work though the Police Commissioner was good friend! I was here in NZ within 2 weeks of hearing of that gun.