This bit of Edwardian/Victorian era shooting trivia from Damascus was very interesting and entertaining. It all was going very well until Ernie (Damascus) was rudely and incorrectly confronted about his explanation of what the "X" token represented in the set of antique Norfolk shooting peg selectors
I thought Ernie had made it quite clear that his explanation was about how this set was used for large estate shoots
in the Victorian/Edwardian era. But then a know-it-all retired National Guard Reservist part-time Soldier of Fortune felt the need to interject and attempt to correct Ernie on how things were done, or are done now. In addition, the arrogance and rudeness was compounded when he suggested that Ernie should address him as "Colonel".
Now, I don't know where he gets off demanding such respect, especially when he certainly didn't show any respect to Ernie. And the bigger question is why would Ernie show any respect whatsoever for a bloviator who claims to have been a Military Intelligence Officer... yet didn't have the intelligence to notice that Ernie's post and explanation for the "X" on the shooting peg selection token had absolutely nothing to do with how pegs are assigned in the present day? There was no need for the off-topic lecture... other than an inability to admit being wrong.
....The real explanation is this, on very large estates where this peg selector came from in fact it was made on the estate with the "X" being the give away and not just having numbers only. Back in Victorian Edwardian times such large estates had a good number of "Tennent Farmers" with the tradition at that time was to have a Boxing Day Tennent's Shoot and that is where the "X" came in. Depending on how many Tennent Farmer's where invited and this estate could handle up to ten. The keepers would be instructed to lay out ten shooting stand pegs, then either the number 5 or 6 token' was removed from the draw either numbers being the centre of the lay out giving the best shooting position usually and the "X token added. When the peg draw was done the lucky person with the "X" would get a good peg position also on the estate where this peg set came from the lucky Tennent would also receive a hamper containing seasonal luxury foods I do like to think it was a Harrods hamper plus a bottle of Sloe Gin. The same form of selection method was also used for Keeper and good friend shoots. Alas a lot of these large estates now have been broken up and sold off putting an end to this tradition though I have been told that on some Royal Estates something similar still goes on.
Ernie.
I really enjoy the information that Ernie (Damascus) takes the time to share with us here. I hope he isn't offended enough to be driven off by this nonsense.
