Thank you, Nitrah.
You know, this BBS and the Shooting Sportsman bulletin board are forums for many, many opinionated and ethical people.
It's notable that you say it like it is; and too, that so many other looked-up to people, to this point, have not.
I have come to know so many good people in the Shooting Sports community. Ours is a fine and noble Tradition. We are all nothing if not those who hold ourselves to a higher standard.
Doug Turnbull., Dave Weber, where you on this issue?
Franc Otte?
Roger Sanger, Silvio, what say you. One of these fine guns, the 16 signed in three places by the engraver, was entered into a Concours d'Elegance at a Vintage Cup event.
If as I put forth there are 20, not 17; if there are three 16 gauge finished Holland & Holland-style sidelocks from the Britte/Dessart/Pissart collection, all purchased by private parties through Luc Bander Borght before G&H acquired the remaining 17,
what say you about Shooting Sportsman Magazine bringing this to light, in the article they deserve, eh? Or, shall they be overlooked? Omitted?
And Ray, I've never known you to hold your tongue where right or wrong is at issue; All 20, not 17 as this article states, were offered for sale through Mr. Vander Borght, at one of your Vintage Cup events at Sandanonna.
The following year, one of them was entered into one of your Concours events. What say you, Mr. Poudrier? Might you have a good reason for not stepping on a toe?
Niles, your Safari Outfitters offered one of them on consignment; the one with large bold scroll engraving by "Smeets". What say you?
Charles, your British Sporting Arms sold one to a gentleman/lawyer in Texas.
Jack, we looked at this collection of 20, offered by Luc Vander Borght together at The Vintage Cup. One of these fine 16 gauge H&H-style finished sidelocks of the Britte/Dessart/Pissart collection, you yourself imported into La Becasse. Put that Upton down long enough to tell Shooting Sportsman they ought to make this right, if you're of that opinion; I know you have the balls.
Hell, Dani does too; Chime in girl. The article is wrong; they left three out. Should they make it right? By the way, have a good sense of right from wrong, is what I mean!
David T., Barry B. H., Shy Englishmen holding their tongues, I can not fathom. You don't know this but I have hoisted a tot each year to your father on the anniversary of the day we now memorialize and pay our respect to people like your father who fought for what is right. Do him right; Speak up man.
Vic, you want to get it right for your upcoming book, yes? Do not be shy, the Magazine needs guidance, they need to know they should make it right by virtue of a justified article giving full knowledge and validity to the three 16 gauge finished H&H-style sidelocks which ARE part of the Britte/Dessart/Pissart collection, offered by that family through Luc Vander Borght.
Incidentally, introduced by Jack, we met one time; further I missed the opportunity to hunt with you at his friends hunt, only due to a severed achilles tendon. Perhaps another time.
Doug Tate, it was you who was reportedly fed erroneous information you put forth in the article you penned. Here is tremendous opportunity. What say you; do you care if this is set right?
We have never met; it is through others I glean you are one possessing the moral fiber called for on this issue.
Michael M., we too have never met, but have several friends in common. I have supplied fodder enough for at least a couple of bowlfuls, perhaps a raised eyebrow or smile too. The issue is simple. If what I have put forth is accurate and correct, is it right for the Magazine to not make it right?
And where are all the dealers on this? Whether you advertise on this Doublegunshop(.)com or on Shooting Sportsman, we, your buying public ask and expect you to be honest as nails with us. Right now is a fine time to show you are, even if it means stepping on a SSM toe. Is it right? Or does it need to be made right?
People, I can go on, but will cease for now with the comments to the following people.
Luc, you may have told G&H they acquired them all. That is not the truth. Evidence the truth or you put me in a position to do so.
Mr. Bignell, having met you only twice, and being a man I truly feel is a gentleman, I address you more formally.
Are those 17 finished H&H-style finished sidelocks which G&H acquired and marked J. Bury by virtue of the fact that G&H acquired the name Jules Bury, the only finished H&H-style sidelocks of the Britte/Dessart/Pissart collection of 20, three of which are 16 gauge, the only ones of the 20 which deserve proper recognition, or, do they all, including the three in 16 gauge which were purchased from this family collection through Luc Vander Borght before G&H acquired those remaining 12 gauge sidelocks?
Incidentally, at least one of then, signed in three places by the Master Belgian Engraver was also marked with the J. Bury name, through Mr. Vander Borght prior G&H's acquisition of it. Would you not like to see it, perhaps being the finest of them all? In the words of the engraver, it was the only one of those 20 Britte/Dessart/Pissart sidelocks which the family gave him, the engraver, full license to conceive the whole engraving pattern.
Ralph Stuart, hear me clear; you do a disservice of major concern if you do not as prompty as possible, make this right. There is a responsibility which Shooting Sportsman has.
Ralph, I ask you this:
"Why is it so easy to ignore a problem until it lands in our backyard - to convince ourselves that a concern is someone else's, when we know deep down the repercussions could someday reach our doors? Is it because we, as individuals, feel helpless to effect change? Because we don't believe that one voice - or vote - makes much difference these days? Maybe it's just human nature to stay off the front lines and hope the fight doesn't come to us."
Actually, I correct myself; it is not "I" who ask you, as those are your words in the opening paragraph of the "From the Editor" column on page 5 of the March/April 2004 issue of Shooting Sportsman magazine, so ask yourself if you want to do right by your advertisers, your writers, the Sporting Tradition, those who have come before us, those will come behind us, to our departed friends, a legacy to our Sporting life, including Tim, to the makers of fine guns which are the soil in which your business and perhaps pleasure roots, you have planted - to History, to your readership, but mostly, man, to yourself.
In the March/ April 2004 issue of Shooting Sportsman Magazine
