S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
|
|
4 members (Guy Ave, cable, Warren A, 1 invisible),
437
guests, and
6
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums10
Topics38,500
Posts545,479
Members14,414
|
Most Online1,344 Apr 29th, 2024
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 93
Sidelock
|
OP
Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 93 |
I am looking at a John Dickson rebounding hammer gun from the late 1880s. I don't know a lot about this makers hammer guns. Where would his quality rank and the pantheon of English/Scottish 'smiths?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 199
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 199 |
Certainly in the top tier
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,021
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,021 |
And near the top of that top tier.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,737 Likes: 96
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,737 Likes: 96 |
Top notch. They are still well in business and making guns. I was in their other shop and workshop in Dunkeld, Perthshire last August. http://www.dicksonandmacnaughton.com/ The author, Donald Dallas, who works now for Dickson's, has written a book on their history. It lists all their guns by number in the back of the book. Let me know the number and I'll see what it says. Donald's other book on the eccentric gun collector Charles Gordon is also an excellent source of material as Gordon bought Dickson guns at a prodigious rate but never fired them. He was ordering muzzle loaders and such long after they were out of fashion as well as plenty of hammer guns. If yours is a 'Gordon' it bumps the price up. In his later years Gordon was considered insane and his collection was sold off at a fraction of its original value. If you are really interested in finding out more both books are fascinating; but expensive. I think that they are also limited edition. http://donalddallas.com/ Lagopus.....
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,737
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,737 |
If you are looking, and looking to actually buy, well then, you are quite fortunate. Just to find a Dickson hammer gun in nice enough condition to wonder whether to buy it or not is a lucky and fairly rare situation to find oneself in.
To dig into ones pockets and find the cash to actually purchase said gun is icing on the cake.
My congratulations (and envy) go out to you, sir!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 674
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 674 |
have you been in contact with dan morgan in woodstock, vt? i would not do anything on a dickson in the US without first talking to him about it. well, ALL scottish guns, actually.
dan is great guy in general and may know the gun you are looking at in particular.
pm sent
skunk out
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,954 Likes: 12
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,954 Likes: 12 |
Where would his quality rank and the pantheon of English/Scottish 'smiths? It is not wise to try to generalize an individual gun's quality based on the maker's name. The wiser approach is to learn the Brand Value level of the maker's name and judge the quality of the gun in question independently of who made it. So, to kick off the above, Dickson has Brand Value level two (BV2); so sayeth the market. When you are looking at older guns, you may fairly safely assume that 75% coverage of fine or deep engraving, high grade wood, fine checkering, and tight joinery equal a best work gun. All makers were capable of getting out a best work gun or a farmer gun. The price of the gun determined what quality you got. With Brit guns, you are very unlikely to find a "tart" (a low quality gun with lots of embellishment). DDA
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 674
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 674 |
found dan's phone number 802 457-4828. last night looked for it in email and this morning had the brainstorm to actually look in my PHONE. i never claimed to be a brain surgeon.
he is the "official" US rep for dickson, mc,naughton, frasier, horsley, etc. i think he is the US rep/gunsmith for all scottish brands
he loves to talk about scottish guns and has had many of them that are in the US in his hands
skunk out
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 267 Likes: 4
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 267 Likes: 4 |
To add a little something to Marc's kind remarks, Dan Morgan trained at Dickson.
|
|
|
|
|