geese that can read!!

[mundaire]

Grab all that you can - they are definitely worth money !

Will do!

I`ve seen evidence of termite damage - a pair of Rodda double rifles that were `cased` in a purpose made chest, which originally had four short legs. It arrived in the UK via South Africa and then promptly collapsed into a pile of dust. The pair had been separated some time ago when they were bequeathed to different sons.....or maybe grandsons, anyway, the termites had the stock of the one that made it to the UK as well.

A crying shame! Must have cost a pretty penny to have them restocked!!

Cheers!
Abhijeet

[Grumpy]

Yeah, a real shame. I only saw the one as the pair had been split.......which was also a shame. Barely a trace of blue but only a slight amount of pitting at the exterior breech end of the barrels. Engraved with the typical dopey looking Rodda Elephant, boss-eyed Tiger and silly long legged birds.

[prashantsingh]

That's an interesting article. I have grown up listing to so many Shikar stories from my grandfather, father and other members of the family. There is this funny story on duck hunting which I must share with other members. There used to be a lake behind my farm in Dist Moradabad called the Deega lake. It was a retreat for the British Officers from the Imperial Police and the Indian Civil Services . Our family used to be host for many of them . Once a Britisher (businessman) came over for his first duck shoot ever. My grandfather sent him early morning with a local shikar guide (who unfortunately could not speak English ). Now the first "duck" they came across was a Coot. So our man (the shikar guide) shouting "Saaheb Coot". The new hunter thought he was saying "Shoot" so he shot it down. They walked a few yards and again came upon a Coot and the same thing happened. By afternoon the hunter and the guide returned with a bag full of black (ugly) ducks. My grandfather first asked the shikari as to why he had only shot the black ducks and not the others. The Gentleman said that "Your guide asked me only to shoot these. I thought the other (colourful ones) were not to be touched. Whenever he would see the black ducks he would shout SHOOT". Then my grandfather asked the guide "Saheb se keval ye kaali batak kyon shoot karwai?" To which the guide answered " I thought Saaheb wanted to only shoot Coots....because whenever I said "Coot" he would raise his 12 bore and fire. At other times when I showed him a Laalsar or a Surkhaab he would just admire them " ........... End of the day everyone had a good laugh.

P.S. : The Deega lake has now been encroached upon. The water has been drained. The land reclaimed for agriculture and the "poor" farmers grow paddy there. My sympathies are for the poor siberian ducks though.

[hvj1]

You have started of well, hope that you are a regular here with more stories and insights.
Regards

[shooter]

im quits surprised by the gentleman. must be a pure city slicker. even today in the 21 century, we get ducks and geese here everywhere. even within central london. coots, mallards and geese are a very common sight and if one wants can easily know the difference. he must have been one of those who see but dont look.


funny story. keep them coming.

[prashantsingh]

Indeed . Like I mentioned he was Businessman on his first shoot.