Indians For Guns

http://www.internetgunclub.com/phpBB/vi ... 8&forum=46

I wonder how many old hammer Black Powder guns are still kicking around in India? I would certainly be interested in buying some if they could be exported - it would be a dream to get them professionally restored over here and bring them back to India when the laws are changed!

Mr Mehul,

There are still plenty of Black Powders going around in India,. the most common being 577 Bore, 500 Bore, 450/400 and many by some excellent makers.

AC

A-C,

Believe me, I get, on average, three or four offers a month from India to sell me some BPE gun or the other, usually from someone whom I don't know from Adam. When I ask for pictures and details, there is usually no further correspondence. And, when there is something that I get pictures of, it almost always is a rusty old piece that resembles an agricultural implement left outside in the rain ever since it was bought, for which someone wants prices that would be terribly high even if Jim Corbett had been a former owner. To top it all off, I am still uncertain about the legality of exporting these guns myself and I do not wish to do anything that is anywhere outside the law.

There are some facts that sellers in India also forget - brands mean NOTHING while condition is EVERYTHING especially as far as BPE guns are concerned. The name British brands all made their reputations in the smokeless era, not the Black Powder era. The superstars from the old BPE and Hammergun era were not the Hollands, Purdeys etc that are so appreciated from the smokeless era were not names that the Black Powder era revered.

Yes, I am looking for good guns - their import into the USA is very simple - pre 1898 guns could be delivered to my door in fact, and I have the resources to buy them if they are really available. But, like the mythical unicorn, these have always proven elusive as they get more spoken about than shown. I'd be happy to be corrected on this, but all of the evidence that I have seen so far leaves me with zero reason to change my opinion.

mehulkamdar wrote:A-C,

There are some facts that sellers in India also forget - brands mean NOTHING while condition is EVERYTHING especially as far as BPE guns are concerned. The name British brands all made their reputations in the smokeless era, not the Black Powder era. The superstars from the old BPE and Hammergun era were not the Hollands, Purdeys etc that are so appreciated from the smokeless era were not names that the Black Powder era revered.

Terribly sorry to bring up such an old thread, but I couldn't resist because this statement I have put in bold is wrong. Holland and Holland made their fame in the black powder era, starting with the winning of the 1883 Field Trials. From there after, even though Holland sourced most things from W&C Scott (until 1894 after they built their own factory and started producing most of their own guns, which is still in the black powder era) Holland guns were known for their incredible accuracy. This was mostly do to their guns being regulated by William Froome, who was known as an amazing shot. They were also in 'The Field' newspaper quite often, a popular sporting newspaper at the time which held most of the gun trials in the 19th century. Not to mention the famed Fosbery Paradox patent of 1885, which need I mention was a huge success. Purdey was also a well known and respected maker at this time, along with other "superstars" from the smokeless era. The Nitro Express calibers did not make their debut until 1898, after plenty of both British and Indian royalty, along with many famous hunters chose Holland and Holland and others for their rifles and shotguns. So basically names do mean something in black powder guns, but you are right in saying condition plays a major role in the pricing of a gun. There are many other factors besides the name, but it does play a large role in price.

C.

I would also Like to add that Sir Samuel Baker helped Holland and Holland create the .577 Black Powder Express.