Lean Dickson & Son
 

Although I love my many Parkers, this gun is hard to leave home on long walks. 12 gauge, 29 inch, 6 pounds 7 oz.
https://i.imgur.com/D4Rq8IU.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/8Ii5vgQ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Yn5qEsO.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/EuLeqsf.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ThOUhAA.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/n5DUhOn.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/pGjez2h.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/zJwelf2.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/F7I5sw2.jpg

Beautiful!

After looking at the pics I scrolled down to post a one word response, but Brian beat me to it.

Now that's exactly how a 12ga. bird gun should look and weigh. Very nice.

Great looking condition, but the wood is superb! Did you get any information on the gun from Dickson's?

Ken

That gun is gorgeous.

JDS Research Letter
 

Ken, I do have that information in an email somewhere. I will see if I can find it and post any interesting facts. I don't recall the actual information other than it is circa 1900 and I believe the initials on the trunk case match the owner.

Dean

As someone once opined, "life's too short to hunt with an ugly gun."

So true John..

I'll go with glorious.
It is a veritable celebration of the gunmaker's art, yet sublime in its restrained elegance!
Good Lord, that is a magnificent thing! That is as nice an example of a Dickson round action as I have ever seen.
Enjoy it!

Stunning gun. Wow!

Absolutely love Scottish guns! There is something magical about them, hard to describe accurately but svelte always comes to mind. Even the most basic Scottish boxlock looks and feels amazing in had. Here is a Basic 12 bore out of the highlands, purpose is for walk up grouse shooting on the moors. You have a fantastic gun!

Dean, What a gorgeous Dickson. I may have the "older brother" to your gun. Mine is from 1890 according to Dickson's records, and was part of a pair. It also has 29 inch barrels and weighs in at 6 lbs. 3 oz. These round actions are lively in the hands and very well made. Congratulations on being the caretaker of one of the best double gun designs ever.

Second that on Scottish guns.

Garry,

Your Dickson only has a single screw on the action near the flats. Is this a non-ejector gun?

Thanks,
Ken

Svelte!
 

Rick,
Thanks for the kind words. I DO like Scottish guns!

Did William Wallace have a Dickson?
 

Garry,
Yours looks to be a very close match. After all they made less than 2000 round actions since 1880. Do you think William Wallace had a Dickson?:)

Ken, It's an ejector gun with typical ejectors in the frame.

Hmmm...Did Dickson make a double round action crossbow?:)

Research Letter
 

Ken Hill - This is what they had to say.

https://i.imgur.com/b5Y9AKE.png

The workshop ledger entry notes

Conventional order for a single Round-Action gun, issued with patent number 793 meaning
it’s the 793rd patent gun made since 1880. The gun was fitted with 29in barrels which is the
optimum length for a Round-Action gun.

What we know about the original owner

Alfred Woodrow Stanley Wingate was born in London in 1861, the only child of Rev. William
Wingate. Alfred first enlisted in the military in 1881 at the age of 20 and would have a taste
for adventure. Spending the first part of his career in the British Intelligence Branch of the
‘China Force’ and then moving to India, again working in Intelligence, being promoted to
Captain, 14th Bengal Lancers.
During his time in China, Wingate had an affinity for exploring and making many notes on
the wildlife, returning some insects to the Natural History Museum in London. He would
return to London in 1910 to be married to Letitia Beryl Tucker (who he had met in India) and
have a non-combatant role in the First World War, retiring as a Colonel in 1917. Wingate
died in 1938 at the age of 77 in Camberley, England.
His adventures were published in ‘A Cavalier in China’, an account of a journey through
China in 1898-99. This was published after his death, by his wife, who was an accomplished
editor and publisher of her own books, under the name Mrs. Alfred Wingate.

The business of John Dickson and Son in 1900

Business was buoyant in 1900 with the workshop delivering a total of 72 weapons that year
with 57 being Round-Action’s. Dickson’s best customer, Charles Gordon, only took delivery
of 2 guns in this year.

The story of Wingate, the man, is as valuable as the gun itself. Just holding it should connect you with his spirit and the window of time in which he lived. THIS is why these old double guns are so important to those of us who cherish heritage.

Dean,

A lot of information in the report from Dickson's. When I ordered one in 2018, I received the ledger page, but they did not provide any information on the owner. Did you order the details of the gun since J-P has taken over Dickson?

Ken

Research Letter
 

Ken,
Yes, J-P provided the narrative. If I remember it was not all that expensive and you have to be an Owners Club member.

We met J-P at the Southern a couple of years ago and had a good conversation with him. He supplied the record for my round action, and also gave me what information he had about my 28 bore boxlock. Between what he told me about the 28 and the information that Jack Rowe knew of it (because of his knowledge of the maker of the gun for Dickson), I have a pretty good record of both guns. As already posted, it's really nice to have some sense of the history of your gun, one that you can add to with your own use.

(Ken, BTW, I'm not sure if Charles Gordon is a distant relative, but the Duke of Gordon is. Nice to keep the dogs in the family:))

A nice letter from Dickson. I've corresponded with J-P quite a bit on Dickson 5028. It is a number 2 gun, but isn't in the ledgers. It's hard to believe this picture is now 6 years old. A Dickson should have a Gordon to hunt with.

http://parkerguns.org/forums/picture...ictureid=11729[/IMG]

Ken

Amen to that! (And a Dickson will also look good with a "Red and Black" brace.)

I have the KELL engraved Dickson (On their web site) arriving here soon. It also will be hunting along side a Gordon.

Richard,

It looks like a very nicely done Dickson. Hope you enjoy it and take it out.

Ken

This Dickson has a bold block engraving pattern. According to J-P maybe 40 guns were in engraved in this style. The style probably wasn't a winner with Dickson owners.

http://parkerguns.org/forums/picture...ictureid=12938

Dean,

Sorry for hijacking your thread.

Ken

Richard, I'd sure like to see pictures -- of gun AND Gordon -- when you have some to share.

Dean, I add my apologies to those offered by Ken. You started a nice line, though. Thanks.

No problem..take it away!
 

Ken/Garry,
No problem, these are great discussions and why you start one. To see where it will lead....

I will definitely hunt the Dickson and I will post pictures of my Gordon Archie next to it and hopefully a bird or two.

Wanna trade for a VH 12 ga? :)

That’s my dream gun right there!

probably the only shotgun make in the world I get excited over

Very nice. Some 2 inch RST shells and your ready for the grouse coverts this fall.

This is a link on the Dickson RA shooting aspects https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid...ature=youtu.be. Some of you may have seen it.

Ken

Just sittin' here in the depths of the after-the-season doldrums wishing I could see some pictures of a Dickson and a Gordon...or a Dickson and a Lab...or a Red Setter...

Just to get the thread revived:

Garry,

It was a tough year for birds. This is a picture of the Bliss(ter) as we were resting during a long day. http://parkerguns.org/forums/picture...ictureid=13704. Walked a lot of miles this day to only put up 3 hens and a small covey of quail. Glad the Dickson weighs 6lb 5oz.

I can't figure out how to rotate the picture!

Ken

Thanks for bringing this thread back up. It's almost 1.5 years old.

Ken