I received my copy of Sir R.Payne-Gallwey's book, 'Letters to Young Shooters', (3rd Edition, published by Longmans Green in 1896, in the post this morning. It appeared to have never been opened as most of the pages were still attached to each other by the folds that are usually trimmed off during the binding process. This is not uncommon in books of the late 1800's and I have met with many similar over the years.

This is a weighty tome (over 2" thick)and in more ways than one, and the section devoted to Punt Guns, punts and techniques used in shooting etc, run from pages 455 to 616. Sadly the book, never having been used has a very tight spine and I am wary of opening it flat to try and scan in any page, in case the spine breaks on bending. (I know if I were a 115 years old, my spine wouldn't give much. It doesn't give much now and I'm only 68).

There can't be a more complete book on Punt Gunning anywhere. It covers all forms of Punt Guns, muzzle and breech loading, gun dimensions, powder and shot charges, primers ,caps, details of shot. There's even a large section on design and construction of the 'Punts' themselves. The types of paddles, oars and even sails that can be used and the techniques in using them to hunt wildfowl.

This really is a book that deserves re-printing, so that this knowledge can be passed on to new generations of Wildfowlers. It may not be legal in many places now and is somewhat restricted here in Britain by licencing difficulties. Imagine trying to find a 'gun safe' for a Punt Gun 10 feet or more long.

I would certainly recommend anyone interested in such a form of hunting to try and obtain a copy of this volume from old, antiquarian or specialist booksellers.

I mentioned sometime back last year that I had been Punt Gunning once in my teens, as the 'paddler' in a 'punt' off the Island of Lindisfarne (Holy Island) on the Northumberland coast, in North East England. That was 50 years ago, but I really would like to try it again.

I can tell you, that punts can go faster backwards then forwards, especially under heavy recoil. lol.

Harry

Last edited by Harry Eales; 03/16/11 08:39 AM.
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