Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2020 i Shooting Gazette

SHARE YOUR VIEWS Email: martin.puddifer@ti-media.com The happy tale of Harry and Maddie How interesting that Sapiens should write about re-homing a gundog in the April issue. Five years ago, a few weeks after losing one of our favourite black labrador bitches, we were contacted by our local kennel, who had looked after our dogs on many occasions, to ask whether we’d be interested in taking on five-year-old Harry, whose owner had died. We were doubtful at first as we hadn’t run a dog for many years and wondered how he’d fit in with our four remaining labs. We were assured he was a real ‘gentleman dog’ so agreed to go along and say hello. We found that he had been trained by a well-known trainer in the area so took…

The day would be at Balcombe Estate in West Sussex, and the party would stay at Balcombe Place, which was recently refurbished by Fiona Martin née Greenwood. I would have Simon Greenwood from Balcombe as the shoot captain, Simon is a very good Shot but also a good host who would be on the radio to headkeeper Johnny Light to adjust the beating line if he thought some of the Guns were out of the shooting. I have been shooting since I was 14, but I had been going out with my late grandad John Taylor Lowe, who farmed on the edge of Bishop’s Stortford, from an earlier age. He used to shoot on the land surrounding Stansted Airport; I can remember standing on concrete runways surrounding the airport, which…

The spring was long and dry, and the hill streams withered down to a dribble. It can be hard to see how the weather between March and April can determine the breeding season for gamebirds, but early conditions are often key for laying down the foundations ahead of the coming breeding season. It was a mild winter in Galloway, and rain fell almost continuously between January and the start of March. It became hard to walk across parts of the hill, and the ground wobbled like a trifle under every footfall. Then it was as if someone had turned off the tap, and the ground baked into a web of cracks and powder. A bitter east wind raked in and blew the hill to a crisp. We would normally welcome…

As technology, engineering and geographical exploration rolled on through the 19th century, academics and the British public at large developed a huge appetite for information about the flora and fauna of the emerging world. Naturalists of every sort accompanied the military and exploratory expeditions through which Victorian Britain cast her imperial net to open up and annex previously unknown territories. Birds were especially attractive and accessible. It was a stark fact, however, that the only way to obtain examples of those new and exotic birds was to shoot them. Propelled by an insatiable desire to be the ones who would reveal the secrets of new regions, ornithologists armed themselves with notebooks, sketching materials, weighing and measuring equipment and shotguns. In the pre-photography era, no matter how vivid the descriptions and…

Think for a moment about all the things that raise a few titters and giggles on shoot day. The Guns who ask for assistance because they’ve forgotten their peg number. The pickers-up who have to dismount their excitable gundogs from the nearest leg. The beaters who have to run 200yds in 10 seconds because the drive is about to begin and they’re in the wrong position. The cooks who can’t remember if they put sugar or salt in the elevenses cakes mixture a moment before it’s served. The journalists who can’t follow simple directions and arrive at the shoot yard mid-way through the briefing. The list goes on, but one excuse the gaff-prone can sometimes use is that they are out of practise. With everything that is going on in…

I was joined for the test by former England and GB ladies team member Di Wade, who uses a 32in Caesar Guerini 20-bore for all her game shooting. I use a 32in 20-bore by a different manufacturer which is a couple of ounces heavier, so it would be interesting to see the difference. Starting at the usual 40ft tower, the handling was predictable and the triggerpulls first class. The ejectors are well timed and effective without throwing the spent cartridges on to the adjoining peg. I put ½ and ¾ chokes in prior to the test, and with a variety of cartridges from 24gram to 30gram the patterns were effective with some impressive breaks. The handling was excellent, smooth and controllable, with the balance just in front of the hinge…

With the number of businesses currently suffering a savage drop in profit, it would be safe to say there will be some spectacular used car bargains when the lockdown starts to lift. At the same time, one of my better sources of intelligence, Andrew North of Alexanders Prestige, says this won’t be true for all sectors of the market: “Enquiries for middle-market cars via the likes of Auto Trader are actually buoyant at the moment. People have time on their hands and some still have money. Because of the restrictions of the lockdown, many prices have effectively frozen.”…

A rare .360 double-barrel hammer rifle built by James Purdey & Sons for the Prince of Wales was the star lot at Gavin Gardiner’s auction of modern and vintage sporting guns in April. Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, the eldest son of Queen Victoria, presented the rifle to the Nizam of the Deccan, the ruler of Hyderabad, during his tour of India between 1875 and 1876. Lot 137 was estimated at £8,000 to £12,000 and was purchased for £10,000 by a private buyer based in the UK. The rifle was in its original makers case with the Nizam’s name on the lid. The rifle’s rib holds the following engraving: HH The Nizam of the Deccan from HRH the Prince of Wales, KG, GCSI 1876. For more information on this and…

As we are in the midst of a pandemic, I thought it would be rather fitting to understand and highlight the effects of COVID-19 on the countryside. In the news, quite rightly, they mention the health aspects and the economy and social effects. However, the impact on the countryside itself is rarely a topic. Yet COVID-19 is having a sizeable impact on the rural areas of our country. Fly-tipping is, frankly, dreadful, not only aesthetically unpleasant but potentially damaging to wildlife, with things like asbestos and harmful chemicals being carelessly dumped. Due to the lockdown many tips are closed and flytipping has soared. People are finding the time to have a clear-out but instead of waiting to dispose of their waste when tips reopen they are using the countryside as…

COURTESY OF SERVES 1 PERSON Ingredients For the roast • 1 whole pigeon• 2 sprigs of fresh thyme• 2 cloves of garlic For the marinade • 20g honey• 20g teriyaki sauce• 10g wholegrain mustard• 2g smoked paprika• 4g smoked chipotle paste For the salad • 250g fresh watercress• 40g grated parmesan• 8 raspberries• 3 whole ripe plums• A pinch of sugar Method Stir the marinade ingredients together. Place the whole pigeon in a mixing bowl and brush it with the marinade. Season with salt, pepper and smoked paprika then refrigerate for 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 180°C. While you’re waiting for the oven to heat up, rub the skins of the plums with a little oil and sugar and place them on a roasting tray. Once the oven is…

The Hunter GTX Evo Extreme from Lowa is the boot of choice for Guns and keepers who demand strength and comfort when out in the field. Handcrafted in Germany using the finest leather, SPS midsole technology and Vibram outsoles, these boots will look stylish and your feet will be well supported, while the Primaloft insulation and Gore-Tex waterproof lining will keep them warm and dry. For more information, visit lowa.co.uk. To win a pair, find the 11 words listed and send the completed entry form to: Wordsearch, Shooting Gazette, TI Media Ltd, Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough GU14 7BF. Entries to arrive no later than 30 June. The first correct entry to be drawn will win. Note: April's winner will be drawn at a later date. • Shooting Gazette, published…

In order to transport personal firearms out of and back into the UK, or import a gun that you have purchased abroad, it is first necessary to obtain a European Firearms Pass (EFP). Currently, these are issued, free of charge, by your local police force; however, this situation is likely to change after Britain leaves the EU. It is sensible to list all firearms that you own, as some forces do not like changing or issuing new EFPs at a later date. If you purchase a firearm of any type abroad, it is important that you get the dealer to stamp and complete your British permit (for shotguns) or licence (for other types of firearms) exactly the same as you would in the UK. Also ensure that you obtain a…

Taxidermy grew out of traditional tanning processes. It derives from two Greek words, taxis, an arrangement originally applied to military dispositions (hence tactics), and derma, skin. The first appearance of the term is attributed to Louis Dufresne of the Paris National Museum of Natural History, who coined it in a reference book in 1803, though other attribution dates it to 1820. Skins not destined for taxidermy were ideal for flat storage in drawers and cabinets and for comparative examination. Birds were slit from tail to beak and with the flesh and bones removed the skins were treated with ‘arsenical soap’ according to an 18th century recipe devised by French taxidermist Jean-Baptiste Becoeur, which combined arsenic, white soap, camphor and salts of tartar and lime. This kept the skin supple and…

We all know that the provenance of a famous individual or somebody with a fascinating history will increase the interest in a firearm as well as boosting its value. Last year, I bought a pretty (but fairly ordinary) flintlock cannon-barrelled pistol dating from the mid 1700s. I bought it because it had an interesting large crest and when I researched it, found the pistol originally belonged to Lord Jeffery Amehurst (1717-1797), who defeated the French in Canada in 1760 and was subsequently promoted to field marshal. There was another crest on the pistol and this turned out to be the Order Of the Bath. For his service in Canada, Lord Amehurst was made a knight of the Order of the Bath in 1761 and this was the presentation pistol that…

Alexander Henry was the rifle maker in the second half of the 19th century, having a far bigger international customer base than any other British gunmaker. He sold a vast number of rifles to India and during the 1883-1884 Calcutta Exhibition put on a lavish display. The Henry display in Calcutta comprised a large 9ft by 5ft cabinet made of ebony and gold surmounted at the front and back by the Prince Of Wales’s feathers and each side with the Duke Of Edinburgh’s crest. It contained no fewer than 38 rifles and guns in many different calibres. Two of the rifles were handsomely inlaid in gold as the Maharajahs were regular customers of Henry and liked ostentatious firearms. The Scotsman of 15 January, 1884, described Henry’s exhibits: “Among the novelties…

Engineering: 10/10 Caesar Guerini has invested significantly in its CNC engineering capability to produce guns with features which, if made by the more traditional methods, would cost significantly more. It also backs this investment with a 10-year mechanical warranty, which shows confidence in the product. Handling: 9/10 The handling is very good, with no vices. It moves smoothly and shoots nicely, the balance just in front of the pin does no harm and in fact makes it a little more controllable. The comb is just a little flat for me personally, but then I would have the stock adjusted to my measurements. Don’t underestimate the importance of the correct fitting of your gun both for comfort and to ensure that your gun is shooting where you are looking. Looks & finishing:…

Adam Calvert is a freelance shooting instructor with a global reputation, offering bespoke shooting instruction. He is also an ambassador for Fabbri. Q What kind of things should game Shots concentrate on when they can’t get out onto the shooting ground? A There are still many things you can practise. Here, I have concentrated on footwork, gun mount and addressing the bird. Footwork How should we stand? This comes in two stages: how we stand in general whilst shooting; then how we move our feet to improve rotation for crossing birds. Convention gives us some basic rules. If you are a right-handed shooter then your left foot needs to be the leading foot, and vice versa. Most people place their feet shoulder-width apart with their lead foot pointing to 12.30…

In TS Eliot’s The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock, he sees Death as a Footman holding his coat. Burleigh was on light duties this past winter, which he enjoyed seemingly without damage. And then one day, he fell. It was comical, but then I realised he couldn’t get up. He just lay there, looking hurt and puzzled. The Footman held his coat and snickered. By the time we got to the surgery I had convinced myself he wouldn’t be coming home. The vet diagnosed joint problems and prescribed meds and rest. Burleigh trotted back to the car and jumped in. “Burleigh trotted to the car and jumped in…” The Footman then cast his beady eye towards Cecil. SWMBO hurled dummies across a raging torrent. The labs launched themselves into…

1963 – 2020 Debbie lost her life in tragic circumstances earlier this year. She was well known in shooting circles and among gundog enthusiasts, writes Maurice Stanbury. Debbie had a challenging childhood when her parents divorced, and she left home at an early age. She quickly learned to be selfreliant and determined to live life on her own terms. Once she left school, she helped her father Derek Townsend in his Brighton gunshop and it was from him that Debbie inherited a love of country sports and gundogs, especially Clumber spaniels. In her own right Debbie became an expert in sporting shotguns and rifles, and also became a very good Shot. She worked her dogs on shoots and in 1998, just four years after getting her first working Clumber spaniel,…

Iam not entirely sure the editor has thought this one through, to be honest. I mean to say, to divide the kingdom into just two parts is a trifle cavalier. Especially when you consider I live in East Anglia. I tend not to venture much further abroad than the A1 but I know that north Wales has some famously good pheasant shooting. Then again, where does the north begin? It depends where you are starting from. I remember my godmother coming to stay one June many moons ago from Surrey. She arrived with a full wardrobe of tweeds and fur on the assumption that we would still be in the icy grip of winter. The editor’s roots are on the other side of the Wash from here which means perhaps…

Back in the October 2019 issue, Shooting Gazette supported Country Learning’s 18th Annual Art Auction, which brought together artwork from the likes of Jeremy Paul, Steven Lingham and Robert E Fuller. We were delighted to learn recently that the auction eventually raised £1,830 for the 33-year-old charity, which does sterling work in introducing the countryside to hundreds of thousands of inner-city schoolchildren each year. For more information on the work of Countryside Learning, visit countrysidelearning.org…

Modern sporting guns and rifles, fine shooting accessories, percussion guns, edged weapons and militaria all went until the hammer during Holts first ever two-day sale in late March. Lots included a rare Mortimer 16-bore sporting gun with both flintlock and percussion locks, which sold for £11,000, a fine Manton 15-bore flintlock singlebarrelled sporting gun (£9,000) and a rare pair of hammer ejectors built by James Purdey & Sons and intended for the Paris Exhibition in 1899, which sold for £24,000. Turn to pages 72 to 75 for more about the Paris Exhibition and these great guns. For more information on this and future sales, visit holtsauctioneers.com…

For your chance to win a bottle of Taittinger Champagne for Picture of the Month, send us a team photograph or a picture of something unusual from your shoot. Send high-resolution images or prints with captions to Shooting Gazette Gallery, TI Media Ltd, Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 7BF or email: martin.puddifer@ti-media.com…

Dear Uncle Giles, I was recently asked if I’d give to charity a day’s pheasant shooting at my modest syndicate shoot next season. I agreed immediately but then realised, to my horror, that the date in question has been set aside for the traditional father-and-son day for the syndicate members. Any thoughts on how to unravel myself from this tangle given that the charity day must go ahead? Uncle Giles writes My word, you’ve got yourself in something of a pickle, haven’t you? My first thought would be to ask the syndicate members if they feel like rescheduling the father-and-son day. If they are able to do so you are off the hook. However, if it is the case that neither group of guests is able to adjust their diaries,…

One of the great things about game shooting is the camaraderie it engenders and for Sapiens this is much missed. The pint and pork pie shoot ‘planning meetings’ have stopped; pest control is now a solitary pastime; and checking up on poults, traps and feeders is done in the company of a dog only. Sapiens’ 84-year-old mother, on listening to this sad litany over the blower while participating in an online exercise class, was having none of it. “If I can keep myself amused by taking virtual microlight flights and talking to friends on Facetime then you can too,” she puffed. “How about a regular online shoot quiz?” Good idea, Mother. You can work out your own format and take in turns the quizmaster duties. A small fee to enter…

Whether you’re decoying, flight line or roost shooting pigeon in a high wind it is exciting sport, but can create very testing shots. February produced some of the most extreme weather on record with one storm after another lashing the British Isles. The jet stream channelled depressions across the Atlantic to wreak havoc. Record rainfall was devastating for so many flooded in low-lying areas. In East Anglia it was the ferocious, 50mph to 70mph gales that brought down trees and disrupted travel; all most depressing. However, for one foolish old pigeon shooter out in such conditions, the sport has been exceptional when pigeon could be found returning to woods in an evening or on fight lines during the day. Strong winds have the effect of channelling pigeon on a flight…

All of the ferry companies operating on cross-channel routes between the UK and France have similar rules for the transportation of firearms of any sort. These can be summarised as: 1) Only lockable vehicles that can be securely closed – in other words, cars, vans or similar – may transport firearms. Foot passengers, motorcycles, bicycles and so on may not carry or transport guns. 2) All ferry companies will require details of your shotgun permit, or firearms licence, together with your European Firearms Pass. Some will require you to scan in and email .jpg files or post photocopies of your documentation prior to booking. 3) Advance notice needs to be given to the ferry company well in advance of actual travel dates, in order that firearms transportation forms can be…

The mien and deportment of The Back Gun has often been described by those who encounter him going about his business as nothing if not optimistic. Thus, in any normal year it is with springy step and glinting eye that as the fusillades of the departing season still echo about the memory, your man applies himself assiduously to travel. Less swivel-hipped descent of Alpine pistes or gently roasting like a spatchcock on a Bonaire beach, but more seeking locations outside the homeland where his natural instincts for pursuing feathered and scaly prey can be assuaged in the months between February and August. This year, however, the travel bans have forced him to consider how members of his syndicate have taken their pleasures in years past, rather than the immediate future.…

Such is the name and reputation of the Purdey hammer ejector gun and the glamour that is associated with it, Purdey decided to reintroduce the hammer ejector in 2004. Gun development can be a bit like reinventing the wheel. Not so long ago nobody wanted 20-bores and until the 1970s you could not sell 30in barrelled guns as short-barrelled guns were in fashion. I am looking forward to the day when my 20-bore with its 26in barrels comes back into fashion to shut up the syndicate with the extended poles they carry. But plus ça change, and the Purdey hammer ejector made its re-appearance in the early 21st century. Always looking for something different, a group of Americans asked Purdey to build once again its famous hammer ejector. Purdey agreed…

THE Keeper sunglasses, new from James Purdey & Sons (£695, purdey.com), caught our attention this month – and not just because we thought they’d look smart on the peg. Handmade in Japan, the tortoiseshell and titanium sunglasses are one of four limited edition ‘statement’ pieces recently released by the London firm. They nod to Purdey’s gunmaking heritage, including an engraved serial number, chequered end and sidelockshaped ends on the bridge. Also in the range are The Sportsman, The Traveller and The Weekender, all resplendent and well worthy of one’s attention. Take your pick. Equally swish is the brand new Cotton French Rib ¼ Zip Jumper by Schöffel Country (£79.95, schoffelcountry.com). Pair the jumper with a shirt and a shooting vest for a summer morning at the clay ground and you…

How to win For your chance to win either a Pintail Explorer II smock (top right) or a Seasons jacket (right), email high-res images to martin.puddifer@ti-media.com. Please put ‘Gundog Picture of the Month’ in the subject line. The winner will be chosen by the Shooting Gazette judging panel. Good luck! The prize will only be posted to winners with a fixed UK postal address. Sylvia Duncan’s trio get the nod this month. Don’t worry you three, you’ll be back in the shooting field before you know it.…

Q When my dog retrieves, he spits the dummy out about 4ft away from me and then backs up. Why does he do this and what can I do about it? A Dogs are so fixated with getting to the next retrieve that they often do this, though it’s usually seen with pet dogs as owners endlessly throw things. For now, switch to things such as hunting and direction, using dummies sparingly to diminish the excitement of the retrieve. I find walking away prompts the dog to pick the dummy up again and follow you, giving you the chance to introduce the ‘sit’ and work on delivery to your hand. Go back to early training to maintain a sit as the retrieve ends, and you may have to introduce a…