I have a very modest five gun collection of English SxSs. I am very happy with them. I shall not be shooting steel through them, though, because I have doubts as to the lethality of steel compared to lead.
Instead I shall be using Bio Blue, once the lead ban comes into force, whenever that may actually be. It is a cheaper bismuth type alternative. I have now got to the point where I am shooting less, as age, opportunity and availability take its toll on me. I am not too fussed, though.
Every month or so I take one or two of the guns out to the shooting range and bust a few clays, to keep my eye in. Last month I was having a happy time when the great George Digweed hove into view, giving a couple a shooting lesson. I offered to sit it out whilst he carried on but he graciously said that they would wait. I can tell you, it is rather nerve racking shooting some 20 odd clays with George standing a few paces behind you! And I was testing myself by shooting my Lang & Hussey .410 converted rook rifle, just for a bit of fun. I've not concentrated so hard on my shooting for ages!
None of my children or grand children have taken to shooting, despite having been to see what it is all about, so it is unlikely that I shall be leaving any of my guns to them once I die, or even before I plod off. I have a nephew who might be interested, though all his shooting has so far been with an O/U. Meanwhile, I shall carry on enjoying shooting and admiring my guns and recall very many happy days afield with them, via reading my game books, which I have kept since I started shooting as a boy.
Which is all a rather long winded way of saying that my guns shall not be sold for the foreseeable future. When and if they are I might hope that the market has stabilised and values reflect the craftsmanship that went into building those wonderful guns by our forefathers.
wonderful
Tim
