Perhaps many of these gents were dining too sumptuously and their coats would not encircle their ample girth!!

Your picture immediately reminded me of the picture of the Widgeon Duck Club's J.A. Hannah published in Larry Baer's Parker books --

Attachment 105591

I have looked at the pic's a bunch of times.

I am sure the first 3 dogs left to right are E Setters. The 4th dog is certainly likely a red and white setter as these were here early.

My wife who is a pro genealogist says the two fellows on the left are either brothers or father and son.

The guns are certainly interesting. I think the gun on the far left could be a Lefever side cocker. Just MHO.

This looks like a likely group of hunters that may have frequented "the drowned grounds" in Orange County NY.

I really like the "tall spats" on the guy on the left. I want a pair like that.

Definitely not. The gun is a side-lever opening hammer gun. Somewhat similar to this gun --

Attachment 105598

The Lefever side cocker cocked internal hammers. The lever went into the side, not on the bottom of the frame.

Attachment 105599

I always fasten just the top button on my vest. Ease of movement? Beer gut? I really can't remember why, but...

https://i.imgur.com/GOBuC6Xl.jpg

Looks pretty dapper to me!

Dave: You are correct it does appear to be an opening device and after another look I think those are those are back action locks.

That practice goes back at least to the Civil War. Union soldiers were issued loose fitting "sack coats" and were required to keep their top button buttoned in most non-combat situations. Enlisted and junior officers (lieutenants and captains) wore single breasted coats and senior officers wore double breasted. In this 1885 16th Conn. reunion photo the vets are buttoned-up per regulations.

Thanks, Garth, and others. What a great thread.

A bird vest that fits great at home doesn't fit the same way with a couple of cockbirds in the game pocket, so we loosen the buttons.

Not sure about those hand cockers, but the Dogs L-R Irish red and white setter, English setter, Irish red and white setter, American water spaniel. The leggings on the right gent look to about mid 1890's military style. Changed my mindon the two white dogs. They are either English water spaniels(extinct by 1930) or clumber spaniels. the front legs are to short and stocky for a setter