The Pilgrimage continues(warning-loads of pictures ahead)

[mundaire]

Excellent post Vikram and great pictures!

Cheers!
Abhijeet

[Mack The Knife]

Vikram,

I don't know if you resized the pics but I can just about read the post now.

I am glad Nana had the camera because I really like some of those artefacts - the watercolours and walking sticks in particular. The knife wasn't too shabby either.

BTW, what is a Scentbottle action? Is there a pic of one in your post?

Last but not least - you have a pair of brass ones walking into Purdey in an untucked short sleeved shirt or England has really changed and I am not sure if it is for the better.

Must have been a warm day because even the people in the Westminister Abbey pic aren't clothed for winter. Strange!

The holiday was fun because I had something or the other to do everyday and one particular day was indeed a blast - one of those days you tend to remember for years if not an entire lifetime.

Unfortunately, the Auto-5 wont be coming to Bangalore anytime soon. However, more about that via e-mail to you, Grumpy, Mehul, Abhijeet and Asif.

Thanks as always for a wonderful post.

Mack The Knife

[Vikram]

Well spotted my dear Watson. The day was in deed warm because....

The flintlocks involved two flashes and one bang, the first from the powder in the pan and the second the shot leaving the barrel. The game often used the first flash to run away or escape from the hunter. Mr M was mimicking how hunters used to chase game, barrels aimed, with the gun already fired. The Scottish clergyman Alexander Forsythe developed the lock system that resembles a scent-bottle, hence the name, that forms the basis for the modern shotgun actions. This one discharges almost instantaneously.There also is a picture in this link.

http://www.vvnw.nl/history.pdf


I have always been like that,Rusty.If they wouldn't have me in,I won't put on a suit to get in.Their loss,eh? I really don't know if England changed.Grumps should be able to tell us.

Best-
Vikram

[eljefe]

Vikram-The 'garu' was to complement you on the Boss&Purdey new year extravaganza-wotta blast, you deserve it for this post.

Great encore
keep on doing it
Best
Axx

[axp817]

Vikram,
Excellent pictures and narration, as always. Thank you.

Everyone,
I caught the last five minutes of Modern Marvels: Shotguns on the History Channel today. They showed and talked about Perazzis, H&H, etc., I know the folks here would love that episode. I would recommend watching it if you can, not sure when it will be aired again.

Regards,
Naren

[Sakobav]

Naren

been a while post often

Rgds

[prashantsingh]

This Post is even better than the one I read yesterday. The photos are fantastic. Thanks. Looks like it has been there for sometime now.
There was a time when 30% of Rolls Royce were manufactured for the Maharajas of India.
The Maharajas in those days had lifestyles comparable to the Oil Sheiks of our times.
Purdey cashed on their wealth as well. (The Indian Rupee was powerful then compared to the pound). The company sent it's men to India to take measurements (like arm length , left or right handed , names and "coat of arms" carved on the guns etc etc) and made "custom made" masterpieces for them.
One can only guess what the Maharaja (and his "praja") had to shell out for those weapons.

[TwoRivers]

Well done!, Vikram. Absolutely loverly! If one only were a millionaire. Cheers.

[MoA]

I for a moment thought that the pics were taken yesterday... and given the temperatures was surprised.

Anyhow, good job. Where abouts is Purdey? Miht visit them, to browse.

[shooter]

moa i know all the addresses. if u wanna go, gimme a shout we'll go together.

[nagarifle]

well done mate, looks like you had a good time, just a bit of advice, next time take a London A-Z with you any more to come?