Many double rifles still in India?

[doubleriflejack]

Are many double rifles, especially British ones, still to be found in India today, or have the majority of them been sold and shipped out of India? I know that a huge number of them have been shipped from India over past 10 to 20 years or so, but how many remain do you estimate?

[shahid]

Not too many. A few remain in Madhya Pradesh, some in Hyderabad. A very small number in Bihar and UP.

Kynoch have reintroduced most calibres of ammo but they are available off and on from a Bombay based imported ( Tahir arms ) or from Md. Ilahi Baksh in Moradabad which is way off any Metro route for a normal person to go there and buy 10 per day, if he needs 50 he stays for five days in Moradabad doing nothing.

Unfortunately The Westley Richards Trading Co. has done a very good job in India from 1960s to 1984 ( most of it ) and small numbers even till date in cleaning out all the weapons from India.

Our man Mr. PS Sodhi of Delhi Armourary has also done extremely well in travelling all over India and procuring weapons.

I have had dealers from Kanpur coming to my house in Patna since 1982 after my .375 H & H Double! but I ensured they return empty handed every time.

Otherwisw dealers from meerut, Aligarh, Hyderabad, Bhopal, Rewa, Lucknow and other places have tied up well with this duo of Delhi Armoury and Westley Richards trading Co. and all doubles and bespoke fine weapons from India now adore showrooms in London, New York, and yes Moscow, H & H have opened a branch there or are in the gun cupboards in elegant libraires or collectors and sporstsmen in UK, USA, Australia or Russia.

While we bolt our .315s and wonder if the bolt will fly off at the next shot.

Why this happened ? When sports was murdered in India then of what use were these fine arms ?

[indian]

hi shahid bhai

some of my relatives had double rifles and they really went cheap due to lack of ammo and sporting purpose.500 BPs,450/400 etc etc.such a sad situation

[Shamsher]

Dear Shahid

Your comments are accurate, I could add a few.

a) There are still a lot of doubles in India, these are with people like you and me who love their doubles & would not part with it.

b) with the current indian situation, it is difficult to shoot with these beauties, Add to it the ammunation factor.

c) Mostly old timers, who have been through the glory days, still retain the doubles. But with the oldies "kicking the bucket" the newer generation care much less for the beauties, unless they are people like Shahid or Abhijeet and many others out here.

d) You can see the delight when the owner displays his worthy double. And of course the stories which go with it.

SS

[shahid]

Right. The 450/400 William Evans by James Purdey and my Holland .375 H & H will always remain in the ancient gun cupboard till I die. No problem if the 40 yrs old cartridge I have hang fires. But at least it fires. I will fire it on the roof of the village house to announce sighting of the Eid moon if nothing else.

[indian]

you are correct shamsher the new generation dosent care much about beautiful doubles.they seem to be more into cars and gadgets.by the way,which double do you have??i would love to own a double someday but they are pretty expensive here(canada).

cheers,
Ravi teja

[arshad_ahmad48]

We require some double barrel or bolt action magazine or single shot rifles .

[Sakobav]

arshad

why dont you post in sale and wanted section? This is for reminiscing unless you have few stories of your own or pictures...

[tobler69]

my dad owns a 400/450 nitro express hamerless with 9 bullets 5" from lyon & lyon calcutta.whr can i get more bullets of this calibre n wuts the cost n wuts the fetching price of the rifle?

Please DO NOT use sms language here.