The correlation between fine tackle and fine arms?

[LordRipon]

As a British and American fine arms enthusiast, I continue to see products made by storied firms outside their primary domain of excellence. (E.g. Westley Richards fishing reels)

Has anyone published a book on some of these “sporting arms and sporting tackle” firms? Did Boss, Purdey, Holland, or Griffin & Howe produce tackle?

In my journeys, it doesn’t seem like there are many “crossover collectors” that collect both the tackle and the guns from storied makers, only one or the other. I wonder why that is?

[steeliefool]

I believe early tackle makers were often gunsmiths cause of the metal work involved.

[Brooks]

Did Boss, Purdey, Holland, or Griffin & Howe produce tackle?

…..it doesn’t seem like there are many “crossover collectors” that collect both the tackle and the guns from storied makers, only one or the other. I wonder why that is?

I think that James Purdey & Sons, Holland & Holland , et al, sticking to their smithing specialties, dedicated to its own special machining tools and skills is what made them stand out and become famous and collectible.

I don’t know about “collectors”, but I think you’d be surprised at how many bamboo aficianados on this site shoot fine doubles for upland hunting.

[GerardH]

Does Winchester/E.W. Edwards count? Perhaps too blue collar and not bespoken?

[quashnet]

Mention of Westley Richards reminds me that gunsmiths did not necessarily make the reels badged with the firearms company name. Use of the forum's Search function will turn up multiple examples, with photos, of Dingley reels that are marked as "Westley Richards."

[Brooks]

Does Winchester/E.W. Edwards count? Perhaps too blue collar and not bespoken?

Counts for me! I love my Winchester 101 3- barrel set (20,28,.410).

[GerardH]

Does Winchester/E.W. Edwards count? Perhaps too blue collar and not bespoken?

Counts for me! I love my Winchester 101 3- barrel set (20,28,.410).

Agreed. The Model 21 was a coveted grouse gun, though it never reached the status of a Fox, Parker or LC Smith in upland circles.

[bobk]

[/quote]
Counts for me! I love my Winchester 101 3- barrel set (20,28,.410).
[/quote]

Did you ever weigh your gun with each of the different barrels ?

You should notice that the .410 weighs more than the 28ga that weighs more than the 20ga !

[crowebeetle]

Leonard was a gunsmith

[DrLogik]

I don't (quote) "collect" but I do have two very fine, top end bamboo rods and also own a few very special, very desirable firearms. I love both fishing and shooting/hunting. I also have a few very fine knives...

My three closest fishing buddies do the same and they are also really into black powder and got me started in that last year. Black powder almost becomes an addiction.

[quashnet]

Leonard was a gunsmith

For several years, H.L. Leonard guns from Jerry Girard's private collection were displayed at the Outdoor Heritage Museum in Ossoquoc, Maine, as well as guns by C.E. Wheeler and others. In this forum thread from 2016, see photos (unfortunately marked with Photobucket logos) in posts #28 and #30.

[jeffkn1]

A recent auction had a bench gun from CE Wheeler and the high bidder was Jerry Girard. That will go nicely with the bench gun marked AG Wheeler & Company already in Jerry's collection. A near-twin to either of those half stock muzzle loaders was sold at auction in NH 10 years ago -/+, bearing the mark of William Lawrence, the same Lawrence that was partner with AG Wheeler in the early 1860's. I don't know if the Wheelers did any fine breech loader doubles though at one point they did advertise having some doubles "just arrived", quite possibly from William Read. Read liked finely appointed field guns.
John P. Moore's Sons, Manhattan dealers for Colt, Marlin, Ballard and others, chose CE Wheeler to supply them with trade rods and with the Acme series on a sole agent basis in NYC.

[lloyd3]

There is clearly one and I suffer accordingly. I don't believe any of the bigger gunmaking firms in London made fishing tackle, but some of the provincial makers in Birmingham (and beyond) likely did. I have seen some Hardy Brothers boxlock shotguns and I'd be surprised if there weren't others doing it (Army & Navy?). Didn't know about the Dingley/Westley Richards connection, but not surprised.

[SalmoNewf]

Yes, Hardy’s actually started as gunmakers and added fishing tackle later. I’ve been in the current Westley Richards works in Birmingham and saw a wide array of fly reels displayed on a window sill, adjacent to other window sills displaying various gun parts. I looked at a couple and they were indeed Dingley made. Sorry now I didn’t take a picture.

[lloyd3]

Not British but American, and very early (1890). My fishing tackle has a long history of funding my other pursuits as "needs must". Staying married requires this little sacrifice occasionally...

[lloyd3]

And, of course, this...

[lloyd3]

Hammer guns are the bamboo of fine guns...

[lloyd3]

and then there are the "blue collar" equivalents. There are early American 20-gauge pumpguns that also happen to make fine upland guns...

[Brooks]

Salivating……keep ‘em coming….

[lloyd3]

Well....ok.



My 16-gauge collection. M12, M31L, & a pre-war M37. My father-in-law shot that M31L for the last 10-years of his life. It was a great grouse gun for him (when his 870 became too-heavy for long carrys).

I did a deep-dive into all the classic American pumps to see if they would serve me as well as a double would in the uplands. In the end, my left-handed approach to things complicated the matter to the point where I went with just a good 16 English double. I got rid of all of them, except one...



They have surprisingly similar dimensions and weight. The double is just a hair faster for me.