Preserving rural bygones
There are many nineteenth century sporting authors which gives us an insight into shooting & guns during the early part of that century. Some very practical advice & information concerning firearms comes from Peter Hawker, which we have included, together with other sources here.
From 'Instructions to young sportsmen', 1820s, Peter Hawker wrote, on the choosing of guns & gunmakers..."Of a common size are now brought to such perfection, that a person, who is content with being tolerably well served, can hardly go amiss, in choosing his gunmaker; and there is scarcely anyone in the business but, from the accidental circumstance of having served some of his customers with good barrels, is extolled, by them, as the best maker in the kingdom.
The real sportsman, however, will turn a deaf ear to such recommendations, and continue going to the heads of the trade, which, he may rest assured, for one who wishes to be really well served, is the most certain, the most satisfactory, and, in the end, the cheapest method he can adopt.
In answer to those, who deprecate the idea of giving Mr. Manton, or Mr. Purdey, fifty five, or Mr. Joseph Manton sixty-five guineas for a gun, let me only observe, that the workmen, employed by these and other good makers, require wages and indulgence in proportion to their skill in the respective branches of the business; and it thereby becomes necessary to charge for the guns accordingly.
Should this expense be incompatible with the spirit of finances of the shooter, he has only to pay a visit to Mr. Bishop (170, New Bond Street), or Messrs. Kent, Avery and Vincent (corner of Little Brook Street), where he will get, at reduced prices, the guns of almost every mechanic in London, and some of them entirely new, with every article, as it came packed from the gunmaker, to the gentleman, who raised the wind on it.
Buying a gun ready made, at a respectable shop, is cheaper and better than going to an inferior maker, by reason that instead of waiting six months for one, which, after all, you might not be pleased with, you may here, at once, suit yourself; and, sometimes, full as well as if you had spared no expense. You should, however, first try to examine it, as the gunmakers themselves, as well as the broken-down gentry, are frequently obliged to have little commerce with pawnbrokers.
By having here mentioned only the names of the two Mantons and Purdey, I do not mean to cast any reflection on the rest of the trade; as no one can dispute that most of the leading makers, both in town and country, have turned out some excellent guns: and I am induced to mention one of the country makers, as an encouragement for others to follow his example-Mr. Parsons, of Salisbury, who has his barrels from the same man, and closely imitates Mr. Manton; by which he has given much satisfaction in the West of England. Mr. Parsons has of late, become quite a star among the country gunmakers, as I always thought he would, because he was never above being told anything.
By having named Mr. Parsons, let it be understood that I am far from meaning any thing against his competitor, Mr. Rhodes, who is also a gunmaker of good repute in the same town.
The barrel-maker that I have alluded to is Mr. Fullerd, who for forging, is one of our best artificers. Mr. Charles Lancaster is the other justly celebrated man. Mr. Lancaster receives his barrels in the rough from Birminghan (where the coals for the forge are now easier to be got good than in London); and, consequently, he has the picking from some of the best barrels in Europe; and then turns and finishes them, in a very superior manner, at his workshop, No. 2, Thomas Place, Hampstead Road. Here Mr. Lancaster has a self acting machine for turning the outside of barrels, from end to end; and producing, mathematically true, the proper shape and curve, from the muzzle to the breeching. This apparatus has cost him immense pains and expense, and is, no question, the best invention that has ever been adopted; as regular shooting must, in a great degree, depend on the regular thickness, and the regular tapering of the barrel".
From 'Instructions to young sportsmen', 1820s, Peter Hawker wrote, on the choosing of guns & gunmakers..."Of a common size are now brought to such perfection, that a person, who is content with being tolerably well served, can hardly go amiss, in choosing his gunmaker; and there is scarcely anyone in the business but, from the accidental circumstance of having served some of his customers with good barrels, is extolled, by them, as the best maker in the kingdom.
The real sportsman, however, will turn a deaf ear to such recommendations, and continue going to the heads of the trade, which, he may rest assured, for one who wishes to be really well served, is the most certain, the most satisfactory, and, in the end, the cheapest method he can adopt.
In answer to those, who deprecate the idea of giving Mr. Manton, or Mr. Purdey, fifty five, or Mr. Joseph Manton sixty-five guineas for a gun, let me only observe, that the workmen, employed by these and other good makers, require wages and indulgence in proportion to their skill in the respective branches of the business; and it thereby becomes necessary to charge for the guns accordingly.
Should this expense be incompatible with the spirit of finances of the shooter, he has only to pay a visit to Mr. Bishop (170, New Bond Street), or Messrs. Kent, Avery and Vincent (corner of Little Brook Street), where he will get, at reduced prices, the guns of almost every mechanic in London, and some of them entirely new, with every article, as it came packed from the gunmaker, to the gentleman, who raised the wind on it.
Buying a gun ready made, at a respectable shop, is cheaper and better than going to an inferior maker, by reason that instead of waiting six months for one, which, after all, you might not be pleased with, you may here, at once, suit yourself; and, sometimes, full as well as if you had spared no expense. You should, however, first try to examine it, as the gunmakers themselves, as well as the broken-down gentry, are frequently obliged to have little commerce with pawnbrokers.
By having here mentioned only the names of the two Mantons and Purdey, I do not mean to cast any reflection on the rest of the trade; as no one can dispute that most of the leading makers, both in town and country, have turned out some excellent guns: and I am induced to mention one of the country makers, as an encouragement for others to follow his example-Mr. Parsons, of Salisbury, who has his barrels from the same man, and closely imitates Mr. Manton; by which he has given much satisfaction in the West of England. Mr. Parsons has of late, become quite a star among the country gunmakers, as I always thought he would, because he was never above being told anything.
By having named Mr. Parsons, let it be understood that I am far from meaning any thing against his competitor, Mr. Rhodes, who is also a gunmaker of good repute in the same town.
The barrel-maker that I have alluded to is Mr. Fullerd, who for forging, is one of our best artificers. Mr. Charles Lancaster is the other justly celebrated man. Mr. Lancaster receives his barrels in the rough from Birminghan (where the coals for the forge are now easier to be got good than in London); and, consequently, he has the picking from some of the best barrels in Europe; and then turns and finishes them, in a very superior manner, at his workshop, No. 2, Thomas Place, Hampstead Road. Here Mr. Lancaster has a self acting machine for turning the outside of barrels, from end to end; and producing, mathematically true, the proper shape and curve, from the muzzle to the breeching. This apparatus has cost him immense pains and expense, and is, no question, the best invention that has ever been adopted; as regular shooting must, in a great degree, depend on the regular thickness, and the regular tapering of the barrel".
