I hope you will be making it to Northbrook this year for the National Classic Shotun Fest. Mr T and I attended last year and had a gr4eat time and saw many great guns. I am posting an article I posted a few months ago from "GunMaker" magazine about last years event.
The National Classic Shotgun Festival was held May 19-21, 2006 at the Northbrook Sports Cub outside Libertyville, Illinois. The purpose of the event was to promote vintage guns and clay shooting through an excellent array of shooting events on the 608 acre course and at the Game Fair next to the clubhouse in the Grand Pavilion tent. Inside the Pavilion were some of the finest vendors and craftsmen in the world.
Among the events were the World vintage skeet championships, The Trek International Safaris sporting clays championships, twenty-five target five stand, and trap. Most configurations of vintage guns were represented including side by side Hammer, side by side Hammerless, over and under, and pump, in most gauges from twelve to twenty-eight, and in some cases, four-ten. The manager of this elegant club is a gentleman by the name of Mike Bundra, and during the event much of the registration and detail was handled with efficiency by Melissa Byrne, the Office Administrator.
In the list of Vendors were many manufacturers of sporting guns, equipment and the press including Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing, Holland and Holland, Jack Jansma, Kimber, JW Hume, Shooting Sportsman Magazine, Wormser Legendary Knifemakers, Kolar, Steve Popovich representing Merkel, Cesar Guerini, Blaser and Kreighoff, and The Ruffed Grouse Society showing their new A1 Parker. Also attending were Anglo American Sporting Agency, Puglisi Gun Emporium, Don Thompson, Trout and Grouse, Conrad Sundeen, Dan DuMont, G.R. Young Antique Firearms, EAR Inc, Baschieri and Pellagri, Le Djaji Safari Jewelry and others including David Trevallion and myself.
David and I had been invited to attend by past Northbrook Sports Club president Murray Horwich. As we arrived we entered the Grand Pavilion. It was a large vendor area with marvelous natural light through which was the entrance to clubhouse. The Pavilion became a little warm around noon, but flaps were opened to allow for circulation which somewhat alleviated the problem. Off to the left was Famars. To the right was Dale Tate Gunmakers, and Fieldsport .If one ventured a bit further there was Holland and Holland on the left, Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing on the right. Further on toward the clubhouse was Gunnerman Books, and in the far right rear was “Gunmakers Corner” with the American Custom Gunmakers Guild, and other well known technicians. These big Names were interspersed with other high end purveyors and manufacturers. The variety and quality of the merchandise available was second only to events such as the Safari Cub International convention. And in many ways this was a much better venue for a person with limited time due to the generous parking and ease of access to the facilities, and the fact that all of the vendors were top notch. It was truly a grand scene.
David and I walked out of the paved pavilion and into the modern clubhouse through a hallway past the conveniences, the offices, cashier area and into the plush main hall, with its large windows overlooking the trap and skeet fields. Mounted fur and fowl from around the world looked down from the walls upon the shooters as they registered for the event. The surroundings were very comfortable. The aroma of cigars was in the air. Fine vintage guns rested in the racks along the wall next to the latest Perazzis and Berettas, while sportsmen relaxed in comfortable seating at the tables.
The exit to the fields was from the main hall through double doors. As we stepped outside there was a landscaped grassy strip dotted with trees through which was a path to the ten trap and skeet fields. There is a paved lane that runs the length of the fields from the west to the east. At the east end of the lane is a bit of a path then a gravel road, about two hundred yards in all, until the Sporting Clays course is reached. On a normal day there is a hunters course, and a competition course, with the exception of this Friday when the two courses were changed into fifty bird preliminary blue and red courses.
Saturday night both courses were taken down and one large eighteen station course was set with one hundred birds.
Near the clubhouse was the two man flurry. To the right of the flurry was a version of make or break , next there were two five stands, a sub gauge stand for twenty, twenty-eight and four-ten, a competition course for twelve and sixteen gauge and a helice setup further down toward the end of the trap/skeet fields. After surveying the grounds we returned to the Grand Pavilion to more closely examine the fine guns offered.
Holland and Holland is represented in the United States by Guy Davies, Sales Director, Bob Pearson, Administrations Manager, And David A. Cruz, Operations Director, at 10 East 40th Street, Suite 1910, New York. Holland had over twenty guns on hand, including a twelve bore sporting deluxe over and under, game scene engraved. A bargain at seventy-seven thousand for the fully warranted slightly used display gun, or, if one prefers, a bespoke gun can be ordered starting at around ninety thousand. Mr. Cruz had this to say, “The event is well represented. I have not had time to shoot the course, but I am told it is fun and challenging. For Holland and Holland this is very good exposure, now the public can see the guns, and we have piqued their interest.”
Tony Galazan and Louis Frutuoso from Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing presented a very nice inventory featuring fifty-four of their best quality American made guns. This included seven of the new RBL in both single and double trigger configuration.
Lou described the show: “The event has got a lot of potential, we are meeting a lot of Hi Pot’s. These are all guys that are not fooling around.” When I asked him to describe Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing in one sentence he paused and then said “We are the only guys in America making a side by side gun.” He went on, “We have the new RBL, the model 21, the A.H. Fox, the Galazan round body side by side, the Galazan over and under, cases, accessories, and fittings, any need you may have, we have the solution.”
Famar’s di Abbiatico & Salvinelli s.r.l. were represented by Marco Cavazzoni, and Vasco Kazarov, who brought the Avantis and Posiedon over and under shotguns. These guns feature remarkable design including removable central sidelocks with intercepting safety sears. Mr. Kazarov commented, “This is a great club, the tent is excellent, the best I have ever seen, and we have a pretty good crowd today. We are taking orders and will be back next year. The management of this entire affair is excellent.”
Dennis Potter, one of the members of the American Custom Gunmakers Guild, was asked about the event. “Everything about it was excellent, including the shooting. I shot four different events. I noticed they did have some bugs at registration. I pre-registered and pre-paid, but Saturday morning at registration the staff in the clubhouse did not seem to be able to do it very efficiently. Later in the afternoon things were running smoothly.” Dennis continued, “We found quite a bit of interest in the Guild, and our display was in the corner of the Pavilion. In that corner we had a square of tables with all four sides covered. We referred to it as gunmakers corner.” Dennis was referring to the fact that in an area of four tables in the tent we had Dennis Potter, Membership Chairman of the American Custom Gunmakers Guild, David Norin, ACGG member and Editor of “Gunmaker” magazine, Doug Mann, another fine smith and ACGG member, ACGG associate member Steve Downes, Hugh Lomas, a famed Brumie Gunmaker, in addition to David Trevallion, formerly of Purdey, and myself, an Engraver.
Next to the entrance of the Grand Pavilion was a large display of hard to find gun and hunting related books brought by Carol Barnes of Gunnerman Books. She later told me, “Fantastic facilities, great show, Sunday really put me over the top. I developed new friendships with customers, and renewed old ones.”
Just outside the entrance was Bob James’ Montana Longuns and their fine custom stocks focusing on “Point of Impact” gunfitting. They brought the Montana Longuns/ Montana Gunfitting Academy Mobile display room with sixty finished show blanks, display guns, and an office. Each client received a copy of all paperwork at the show, and the order was transmitted to their state of the art facility in Polson, Montana. Inside the showroom was the “Bob squad board” of top sporting clays shooters they have built custom stocks for, and whom they sponsor.
Phyllis James said later, “The show was excellent, we kept busy doing gunfittings, and we received several orders for stockjobs. This has been our best show this spring.”
Fieldsport was another of the firms represented. Fieldsport is one of America’s premier purveyors of high end shotguns to wing and clay target shooters. Bryan Bilinsky and John Hilt brought over seventy guns, three quarters of which were new, one quarter pre-owned, and all together, a very broad selection of side by side and over and under guns. John said, “The whole event was well-run, well-organized, and I absolutely loved the tent. The space per vendor was more than adequate and because of the nature of the tent, the lighting was superb.” He went on to say, “The club and location in general was very appropriate, and I hope it will continue and grow in the future.” Adding, “The best ever outdoor show, as far as I am concerned”.
Some very interesting guns passed through the previously mentioned Gunmakers Corner. Most splendid in its original case with accouterments was Manton #8283, a double barreled fifteen bore caplock by Joseph Manton. As mentioned in Keith Neal’s book on the Mantons, it has some very interesting provenance. A few decades ago it was discovered in a Castle in Inverness, Scotland. Later it was in the possession of David Trevallion, who sold it to the father of the current owner. The gun is in virtually unfired condition, exquisite inside and out. To fully take in the singularity of this piece, and the great fortune of it coming down to us through the ages in such fantastic condition, we need to reference this firearm to its historical context. When this gun was new in 1819, Herman Melvile and Walt Whitman were born. Shelley wrote Masque of Anarchy after the “Peterloo Massacre” occurred in Manchester. George III was on the throne of England. And Joseph Manton himself was, alas, in jail for bankruptcy. The history through which this gun has passed, is very rich indeed.
When this gun is examined, an incredibly high level of skill and workmanship is evident in every aspect of the piece, from the accouterments to the original brown of the fine pattern Damascus barrels. These parts and accessories and the engraving upon them was definitely not made on a CNC machine, but entirely by hand.
Another fascinating piece was a Purdey made in 1881. It is a very rare live pigeon gun, made originally with three sets of Damascus barrels, two sets in twelve gauge, one pair with thirty-two inch length and two and three quarter inch chambers, one pair with thirty inch length and two and one half inch chambers, and a pair of thirty-two inch twenty bore with three and one half inch chambers.
When found by David Trevallion many years ago, the original thirty inch Damascus barrels were all that was that was left of the triumvirate. Mick Kelly of London made two new pairs of thirty-two inch barrels both with two and three quarter inch chambers, one in twelve bore and one in twenty. Trevallion commissioned Casemaker Harley Parlin to build a very special motor case, which Trevallion designed. With the total weight of case, gun and accessories at thirty-five pounds, the case will balance, in the center, under the handle, on a one half inch wooden dowel. The gun has to be seen to be believed.
When these fine examples from the beginning of modern gunmaking are compared to the new RBL, it strikes us that the industry has come to a new era. This new era is in a revolution of “post modern” gunmaking.
Mr. Trevallion was very busy at our booth talking to old friends, and examining these fine guns. I headed back to Holland and Holland, where Mr. Cruz invited me to have at the Flurry with him. He offered me the twelve bore over and under Sporting Deluxe, and we walked to the field.
The principle behind this two man flurry is two gunners with 60 birds in 60 seconds. The computer throws the birds randomly, so you never know which will come next, similar to an Argentine bird hunt, when birds are flying everywhere. The game was new to me, but the Holland and Holland gun performed perfectly, handling with a grace and natural balance that comes only from the best of design, materials, and hand crafted manufacture. After two rounds we were both energized by the lively sport, and would have shot all day if it were not for our duties.
Back in the Pavilion David Trevallion and photographer Terry Allen wished to run the RBL through its paces on the sporting clays course. Lou had been generous in offering us ammo and RBL guns, and Mr. Cruz again graciously allowed me the Holland Sporting Deluxe. The Club supplied us a four seat golf cart, and so we were off to the Blue and Red course loaded down with shells, cameras, water bottles and of course, some of the finest guns in the world. I was allowed to drive.
David was first up and elected to try the Holland. The clays were soon reduced to dust, and Mr. Trevallion commented, “A nice, lightweight gun. It handles very well and performs flawlessly!”
David then turned to the RBL, examining it very closely. When David picks up a gun, he handles it quite differently than the average shooter. He will hold it by the grip in his right hand, while gently running his left hand over the forend and up under the rib to the muzzle, finally slipping his fingers in the muzzle to feel the chokes. Then he often moves the gun into his left hand, balancing the gun near the knuckle, while running his right hand over the comb and the bump. He will examine every dimension of the stock, finally running his right thumb and forefinger around the locks or action. He does not try to avoid touching the metal or wood. It is as if he were a blind man seeing with his fingers, by sense of touch. While he does this his mind and eyes may still be carrying on in conversation.
“I like it, very reminiscent of the 1960’s Anson and Deeley guns out of England; a very basic British style gun.” I asked him if he could detect any flaw in the product. “I did not find it uncomfortable in any way, except possibly on the length as I personally prefer a fourteen and seven eighths to fourteen and three quarter inch stock length.” He then added again, “I like it.”
David went on to explain that in 1897 Webley and Scott began a long run of what were eventually referred to as the 700 series guns. In the period after World War II Webley and Scott offered a reliable gun at a price that was affordable to many of the British shooting public. “The guns were a great success.” David explained that the firm was producing about 1000 guns a year through the 50s, 60s and 70s. In the later years the majority were exported to the US and sales numbers began declining as the price point rose. The actual 700 series guns were produced between 1947 and 1979, and the higher grade 702 between 1951 and 1979. “Many were engraved by Walter Howe,” he noted.
“If the Galazan RBL can be at the top of the boxlock market as long as the 700 series Webley, he will have made a huge contribution to the history of fine gunmaking in America,” David remarked.
At the and of the competition, each registered competitor had a chance at a NIB cased RBL. Barbara Nyholm, a partner in Anglo American Sporting Agency,drew the lucky winning number from the hat. The winner was a local club member, Tom Hanna. A very appropriate last event, for an eventful weekend.
Later, Murray Horwich, past President of the club, said this: “There did not seem to be any problems. We never had a long time at registration, the club was pleased, it worked well for them financially, and we were blessed with good weather. Things went copacetic. We had a lot of help from everyone. Tony Galazan had said to me, ‘Hey, do it, and we will help you,’ and he did.”
Steve Davis, the Promotions Director for the club, said, “Our philosophy was we wanted to make the vendors and participants happy. We surveyed the shooters to a man, they said they loved the course. The targets were set for double gun shooters, doubles being more of a challenge than over and under gun shooters, they don’t want long targets or ‘eye test’ type presentations.”
I can conclude by saying both David and I agree it was a well-coordinated operation.
Barry Lee Hands
David Trevallion
