Researching British Guns

[Nick de Guerre]

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