Researching British Guns
 

Is there a way to research British doubles and get something similar to a PGCA research letter? Particularly interested in Greener and W & C Scott.

Any help appreciated :bigbye:

Graham Greener will reply to requests for information on his guns by email. Not sure about Scott.

Thanks Bill. Do you have a contact number or email?

Mills,

You should be able to contact him from their website http://wwgreener.com/#contact.

Ken

Graham Greener is a pleasure to communicate with

Are these something you have bought or something you are looking at Mills.

Mills,

I asked a question over on the Internetgunclub site to see if they know who owns the W&C Scott records. This thread gives a good thumbnail history on W&C Scott. They do say the records prior to 1912 may not exist.

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=242236

Ken

Thanks for all the replies and help. This is for an article I am tinkering with.

BSA would be another manufacturer you could get lettered, but you you weren't looking for a BSA, but now its out there!! Best of Luck!!

Mills,

Looks like Gallyon and Sons have some of the records.

http://gallyon-and-sons.co.uk/

Ken

Thanks Ken!

Mills:
As I recall, Gallyon's has no records of anything prior to The Great War. What's more, Scott was a massive supplier to the trade, so if you're looking for original owner records it's a very long shot. Then again, you never know...

Thanks John.

Mills,

To my knowledge, the only really thorough research on W&C Scott was a book co-written decades ago by a California collector and a Webley historian...Crawford and Watley, respectively.

It's a 92 page hard bound book called "W&C Scott, Gunmakers." They pop up on eBay at obscene prices from time to time.

They give a great history, as well as model and serial number manufacture date info.

Outside of this one book, Geoffrey Boothroyd wrote a bit on W&C Scott in "Sidelocks & Boxlocks."

Unfortunately it seems the history of one of the world's greatest gunmakers is fading quickly. Which is a shame, because they were very much Britain's Remington, in that they supplied parts to other gunmakers just as the original Remington did. And beyond this, W&C made guns "in the white" that other makers slapped their own name on.

Just as Remington's highest grade 1894's are as good as ANY American double made at that time...so do W&C's compare to Boss, Purdey, etc. Its just that those guys made ONLY "best" guns, and W&C Scott made a gun for every price point.

IMO, there were British guns made which were as good as an Imperial Premier. But NONE that were better, comparing any best maker you like.


NDG

Ok. Went to see the guns and we are looking at:

a C G Bonehill top action hammer gun 8 gauge

a Geo Smith Chatham NY 6 gauge - muzzle loader hammer gun.

Geoffrey Boothroyd had some info on Bonehill but I don't see anything on Geo Smith. Wish Daryl Middlebrook was alive . . .

Mills,

The only reference I could find on Geo Smith is here: https://www.earmi.it/USA%20Gunmakers/S.html.

Not much there other than SMITH— Chatham Street, New York, N. Y. Percussion period.

Ken

Thanks Ken. That is more than I found

Mills, I sent you a PM. Let me know if you get it. Thanks.

Got it and responded. Thanks

Found a copy a W. C. Scott, Gunmaker by Crawford and Watley first edition last evening on the internet. The second edition was extremely pricey so I read first and see if I need the later edition.

I would be curious to hear your feedback on the book.

Read first edition of the Gunmaker W. C. Scott, very basic on how/when it was started and family linkage, reviewed the various patents, reviewed various gun. I believe it would hard to collect these guns based on the limited specific information in this book.
Still a good read.

Hopefully, someone will put out a real book on W. C. Scott. They are certainly a gunmaker that deserves a good book

With great respect to all, please allow me to point out that the company is properly referred to as W. & C. Scott (Gunmakers). Per William and Charles Scott, the principles.

And... I'm afraid such a new book is unlikely due to a host of factors.

Thanks for the feedback. I figured the book would only provide basic or limited details. As others have expressed it's a shame there is not an in-depth reference book.