Pre Trades Descriptions Act there was a lot more licence with terminology. However, remember that most gunmakers were exactly that - gun makers. The man whose name appears on the Teade label - e.g. Thomas Boss, when he set up on his own cannot have been expected to actually action, stock barrel, regulate and finish every gun he sold with his own two hands. He employed people to do this for him, though almost certainly still worked at the bench himself. Some of tose people were 'on the books' and some were 'in the trade'.

It was not really until the early 20th century that the ubiquity of the easily recognised 'Trade models' really became evident the length and breadth of the country.

If you wanted a best gun, you went to aman who could be trusted to provide you with one. The aristocracy generally left 'Trade matters' to the Trade. They just wanted the gun to look perfect, balance beautifully and shoot wonderfully. The gun maker 'made it so'. I'm sure lord Ripon never gave athought to who the lockmaker was that fitted his Purdeys.

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