We all have guns waiting to go to proof and there is a whole queue of us sharing that 'dither' with your friend!

I'm no gunmaker,as you know, and as your old mate Dave Mitchell always tells me 'any fool can criticise'. But the proof houses are a constant bone of contention with everyone over here.

In the past three years it seems to have gone from bad to worse - it is almost as if they don't like the gun trade (but that is paranioa on my part). Very hard to get people to talk openly because we are all tied to them and entrusting thousands of pounds worth of our business to their good offices. Nobody wants to be on their 'sheet list'.

Why guns should be blowing now I have no idea - but it happened to an old double rifle belonging to a well known American dealer too so I very much doubt it is down to the quality of work being turned out.

www.vintageguns.co.uk