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3 members (SKB, MattH, 1 invisible),
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 84 Likes: 1
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 84 Likes: 1 |
I am looking for information/history on an English gun maker named John Foster. The Shotgun in question is marked J. Foster, 7. Duke St Darlington.
thank you PL
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,275 Likes: 205
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,275 Likes: 205 |
John Foster was a long time gunmaker/gunsmith/barrel sleever. I have seen a few rather nice guns with his name on them. Well finished from probably a Birmingham start, or similar. He retired a few years ago and someone else took over the business. This should get you closer to him, if you wish. http://www.johnfostergunmaker.co.uk/
Last edited by Daryl Hallquist; 12/31/18 12:12 PM.
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 84 Likes: 1
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 84 Likes: 1 |
Thank you Daryl.
I did find the link you provided in my initial google search and sent them an email but did not receive a response. I also found reference to a "John Foster" in Vic Venter's book about the "Scales" Purdey. I was hoping to find out more about this gun maker as I am researching a small bore that he apparently built in 1981 that is quite nice.
PL
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,964 Likes: 89
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,964 Likes: 89 |
Met him several times at the Vegas gun show and always the gentleman. Great visits and I loved and appreciated his comments and critiques of various arms at the show.
When an old man dies a library burns to the ground. (Old African proverb)
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 532 Likes: 1
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 532 Likes: 1 |
One of the things he did beautifully was seamless stock extensions with well-matched figure and grain. When he retired, there was no one who could do his quality work on stock extensions, until Mark Larson (now in Vancouver, Washington), a professional artist as well as a lover of guns and hunting, got into this line of work. Now Mark is the man for anyone who wants a beautifully done stock extension with matched figure and grain.
Rich
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,478 Likes: 16
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,478 Likes: 16 |
Foster Gunmakers were (are?) a licensed UK firearms exporter. I used his services to import a Harkom 16 a number of years ago. No problems.
C Man Life is short Quit your job. Turn off the TV. Go outside and play.
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 929 Likes: 259
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 929 Likes: 259 |
One of the things he did beautifully was seamless stock extensions with well-matched figure and grain. When he retired, there was no one who could do his quality work on stock extensions, .... The Birminghanm gunmaker who more than 40-50 years ago allowed John Foster to visit his gun shop and observe and learn the proper way to sleeve shotgun barrels (and who apprenticed as a stocker at S. Wright & Sons, or Churchill's I cannot remember,60 plus years ago) continues to work well into his mid seventies producing stock work the quality and beauty that others (both retired and still working) in the gun trade tried and try to emulate. From time to time some of this Birmingham gunmaker's shotguns (BLE's) with his name engraved on the action appear at auctions in the UK.
Last edited by bushveld; 01/11/19 07:33 PM.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,275 Likes: 205
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,275 Likes: 205 |
Here's a nice John Foster gun.
Last edited by Daryl Hallquist; 01/12/19 10:18 AM.
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,688 Likes: 31
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,688 Likes: 31 |
Bushveld , Pray , who may that be?
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,772 Likes: 758
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,772 Likes: 758 |
Bushveld , Pray , who may that be? I was wondering the same thing. Best, Ted
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