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You may want to search for "English Bests". The topic has been discussed many times with good insight and no single answer.

Bests

Ken

It should be noted and understood that there were some 15 trades that supplied goods to Brit aristocratic and monistic socities. Each of these trades had a "best work" product along with product of lesser quality. "Best work" products were expensive compared to similar items of lesser quality. Social circles were rather tight knit and much tiered in standing. Circles frequently had an informal "list" of tradesmen with which they did business. Social climbing was dangerous business, socially. Guns were like the other trades. Big time (high society) shoots needed "best work" guns, along with clothes, transport, accessories, etc. Lessor shoots - lessor guns.

The big three is actually the big four: Boss, H&H, Purdey's, and Woodward. The market decided this, not me.

Any master could get out a best work gun. The trick was getting the commission. Don't be surprised to find a retailer name on a best work gun.

DDA

Thanks for that, Don. Don't go away.

Well said.

Had to look up 'monistic'. Agree about the "big four"...Geo

Aside from apparel, what are these other trades you speak of? I need other things to get into collecting, obviously. Ha.

There is a dandy little book by Thomas Girtin titled "Nothing but the Best." I highly recommend it to get a better understanding of Victorian/Edwardian consumer goods and the "made to order" (bespoke) concept.

As best I recall, the fourteen trades are as follows; suits, shirts, shoes, gloves, haberdashery, hats, waterproofs, guns and fishing tackle, carriages, wine/spirits and chocolate, stationary, walking sticks, art work, and jewelry.

The "London pattern best" game gun is pretty well defined as a sidelock ejector stocked to the fences, high quality wood of good color and grain, over 75% coverage of high quality engraving, weighing about 6 1/2 pounds, balancing about 4 1/2 inches in front of the front trigger, with unmounted swing effort of near 1.45 and mounted swing effort of 6.4. The jury is still out on being a self-opener. There are numerous "best work" guns that do not conform to the "London pattern." Some due to being made prior to the London best fashion and others because the "bespeaker" knew he wanted something different and/or had a different purpose than driven game.

Do not make the mistake of believing that having a "London pattern best" will automatically make you a champ shooter. Unless, by sheer coincidence, it has you stocking measurements and handling numbers it won't. A gentleman's gunmaker was also supposed to make sure the gun worked, worked for the gent, and that he was well schooled in shooting and etiquette there of. Successful shooting clients made for successful gunmakers.

DDA

Totally agree Don.
One has only to observe the shooting form of the line on a traditional partridge shoot to see form and function in action.

The traditional shooting form is quite unique.

Thanks - that sounds like an excellent read and I will be sure to pick up a copy.

Firmly agree that you can't just pick up someone else's best and become a shooting impresario. For instance, the better finished, likely made to order guns I have owned have all had considerable cast-off built in, likely for their portly well-fed owners. I don't shoot guns with excessive cast well, performing better with the more generic, often non-bespoke "hardware" store versions.

One mans best most likely will be another mans worst when it comes to shooting.