As far as I know, George Bird Evans only ever bought one firearm, that AYA. The 20 gauge Fox was a gift from his father. It was traded for the 12 gauge Fox Sterlingworth. The Purdey was willed to him by Dr Norris. Unless, of course, if he had a .22 rifle or center fire rifle he never really used or a revolver for home defense.

I'm sure there is a photo of a .22 rifle in one of his books, and reference to it in one of his essays, but I think you are correct, Ian, and that the .22 was probably a gift from his father(?).

It kind of makes those of us who have more guns than we really need look a bit gluttonous (unless, of course, all of them were gifted to us I guess:))

Beware the man that uses but one gun! My experience is they are superb shots. I could never be one, but definitely see the benefit in marksmanship.

Once when chatting GBE on the phone he was asking where geographically Orange was in Virginia . Then he related during WWII I think he said he was stationed somewhere in VA anyway he would come to a place called Syria VA and fly fish for brookies . Syria is maybe 20 miles from my home and of course I know all the places up there he spoke of . Syria is maybe four miles the way the crow flies from the Shenandoah National Park .

he did serve as an illustrator for the navy stationed in the DC area

I believe he mentioned visiting an estate in VA in one of his books

I think you may be correct on the DC thing . He told me Kay would meet him somewhere and they’d drive up to Syria and rent a room or cottage when he had leave . Where he told me he fished was maybe 3-5 miles from Hoovers Camp on the Rapidan . The same Rapidan River/stream that Harry Murray came up with the Mr. Rapidan fry flies and emergers . I spent many mornings and evenings in the same general area bouncing dry flies off rocks with my little Walt Carpenter 6 1/2’ 4wt split cane rod . Never used much other than Mr. Rapidans and blonde elk hair caddis .