I am lucky enough to know Cyril and have visited him at his home just off Westheimer in Houston several times in the past. As a matter of fact now that I recall it I shot my first and only ZZ's at one of his events West of Houston. Cyril knows a Webley pattern back action when he sees one, and he also knows that many pigeon shooters favored the back action design in their pigeon guns because of the action's greater strength over the London pattern bar action. You may be surprised that some people on this board may not know that. Of course he is not the only one who knows one of the Webley pattern/style action when he sees one. However, Cyril knows more about English guns than anyone in America and I wish I knew half of what he has forgotten.
The London gun retailer William Evans had Webley to make many, if not most of their guns and rifles. The Webley W&R action was a favorite amongst the trade and their screw grip double rifle was considered the strongest English double rifle action by many in the trade. Other London retailers used Webley as well and I do not recall if Webley built any guns for Holland & Holland while Hollands's was a retailer only. It is not a disgrace to be a retailer.
Some of the the London best quality gunmakers used others to build some of their best quality London pattern SLE guns, such as a Stephen Grant & Sons SLE I own that was built by John Robertson before Robertson bought Boss & Co.
Compared to Cyril, I know nothing and I admit that I am a amateur who has only built and engraved a double gun or two and even a barrel or two. However a amateur who has had the good fortune to spend time learning a wee bit about the gun trade while living where the best English guns are made and sold. Yes, I am probably naive, but not naive enough not to know that I do not know what I do not know.
