Game, Guns & Rifles: Percussion to Hammerless Ejector in Britain - Hardcover

Akehurst, Richard

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0948253614 ISBN 13: 9780948253614

Publisher: The Sportsman's Press, 2004

Synopsis

Game Guns & Rifles has long been considered a classic among sporting gun books. It covers one of the most inventive periods in British gunmaking, that from 1830 to 1900, and is still considered to be the most readable study available. The approach is practical, as well as historical, and holds interest both for collectors and shooters. Included is a chapter containing histories of some notable gunmakers together with the serial numbers and dates of their guns, and also notes on many others with dates and addresses. These were researched in co-operation with the firms concerned or their descendants, and provide an invaluable and unique guide to dating their productions. Whilst for those who may want to shoot with their muzzle - or early breech-loading guns there is is a chapter on precautions, loads, powder, loading, cleaning and maintenance. Following chapters on the development and perfecting of the percussion gun and rifle, the book goes on to describe the tremendous surge of activity and invention throughout the rest of the century, during which the early breech-loaders were transformed into the modern game gun and rifle. Also considered are the changes in game shooting, wild fowling, trap pigeon and wild pigeon shooting, and the robust early days of big game shooting with muzzle-loaders are contrasted with later changes brought about by the tremendous power and accuracy of high velocity breech-loading rifles and easier travelling facilities. Methods of gunmaking during the period are described and particular attention paid to those superb examples of forging artistry, Damascus barrels.

Edition details

• Publisher: The Sportsman's Press
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0948253614
• ISBN 13: 9780948253614
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 192