THE ART OF GUNMAKING Dating back


to 1770, when they started their business in London, Cogswell & Harrison lays claim to being the oldest surviving gunmaker in the UK


◀ Cont nued from p18


decade later, people didn’t care as much about hunting and preparing their own meals – immediacy and convenience became a priority – with this trend lasting to this day.” The modern


machining methods


super-accurate of many


European brands aside, the actual craft of gunmaking has not changed signifi cantly in the last ten decades. Action design has remained the same because it has always been reliable and eff ective, instead, the quality and aesthetics of the engraving and the grades of wood used have seen the real change. Increasing customer demand has meant that engraving is ever more elaborate, increasingly incorporating precious metals, and the look, fi nish and feel of wooden components has improved in turn. Across many sectors, the very


, t BLASER


FOR THE FINEST in European engineering and cutting edge machine tooling and tolerances look no further than precision German manufacturer, Blaser. blaser-sporting.com


TCE0817_BASC_Layout 1 20/06/2017 15:22 Page 1


nature of luxury in the consumer market was rooted in the megabrand big corporate names that dominated the minds of a group of consumers that liked the idea of being a part of an exclusive club.


THE GOLD STANDARD


SINCE 1876, THE Fiocchi family have produced ammunition for the passionate shooter. The company has achieved incredible results and a world-renowned level of quality, with a recent success being Guy Franklin retaining his Champion of Champions title. fi occhiuk.com


This market has become more passionate


about individuality and the freedom of choice. People are feeling confi dent in creating their own unique pieces, and, as ever, the customer is always right, with bespoke gunmakers, such as Longthorne (longthorneguns.com), confi rming that their top end customers are happy to pay more for bespoke services. “What could be better than having a bespoke English-made shotgun of your dreams tailored to fi t you?” asks Elaine Stewart of Longthorne. “You don’t need to worry about supplying stock dimensions when you invest in a Longthorne gun. We invite you to visit the factory, where our team will perform your fi nal fi tting in situ on your gun, shaving off millimetres by hand, to ensure your stock is perfectly tuned to you.”


C British bespoke guns from Longthorne


A relationship you can trust


Our membership comes with insurance you can rely on.


At BASC we look after the interests of a membership of more than 148,000 shooting enthusiasts – more than any other organisation in the UK.


We use our size and all our experience to support the sport you love and give you the highest level of insurance cover built into your membership. You can always be certain that you’re properly protected.


Join today basc.org.uk 01244 573 030


BASC is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority ref 311937 20 THE COUNTRYSIDE EXPERIENCE


• New Stocks • Repairs • Renovations • Servicing • Gunfi tting • Gunroom


Offi cial dealer for Chapuis Armes, Caesar Guerini, Browning and Miroku. New and second hand guns.


Tel: 01525 872 522 Bedfordhsire J12 on M1 www.stephenandson-gunmakers.co.uk


Image © Celine Peniston-Bird


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