I don’t like February. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m glad to see another one and realise that many people who saw the last one through won’t see this one dawn.
We all hoped COVID would be a memory by now but here it is; still a thing. The environment it seems to enjoy the most is a nice warm convention centre, full of people unvaccinated and not wearing masks.
It is especially pleased when those people fly in from all over the world, breath all over one another for the best part of a week and then fly back to all points of the globe, only to return to another convention centre a couple of weeks later to do it all again.
COVID had a blast in January as that is exactly what the shooting community provided for it.
Basically, COVID had a blast in January as that is exactly what the shooting community provided for it. Dallas Safari Club, held in deep red ‘stop the steal’ country, where vaccines are a Bill Gates conspiracy and mask-wearing does not so much stop you from killing granny as it steals your freedom, kicked off the new year and got COVID off to a good start.
The event advertised that no vaccine evidence would be sought, no masks were required and the pandemic was basically to be ignored. I guess a good percentage still think it is a Democrat hoax.
The director of one British gun maker who attended told me he was the only one he saw wearing a mask at the entire event. Putting health aside in favour of his duties to his business, he did the usual meet-and-greet, hosted his stand and took some good orders.
After coming home and preparing for a return to the States for Safari Club International in Los Vegas, he tested positive for COVID and was unable to fly.
The director of another firm made it unscathed through Dallas, then negotiated SCI, but upon arriving back in England was bed ridden for days with heavy COVID symptoms and was feeling decidedly rough when we spoke on the ‘phone.
He did take several orders for new guns and sold some restored ones he had taken with him, so was a little cheered by the financial benefits of exposing himself to the unvaccinated masses but it seems ridiculous that one has to risk one’s health to do business these days.
February brings with it the first of our own trade shows, admittedly much smaller than the massive ones in Dallas and Los Vegas but still a chance to catch-up with friends and see what is developing.
The last time I went to the British Shooting Show I was shown a new product called Bioammo, which addressed the twin concerns of lead shot and plastic littering. It was loaded with steel and the case and wadding were of a vegetal compound which degrades in the environment.
I have since seen the company bring out more products, including ‘Blue’, which is a like-for-like lead replacement that requires no modification to the gun. I anticipate more proffered answers to the lead and plastic problem as time passes and have been impressed by the way the industry has responded to the challenge.
IWA is a fascinating display of everything cutting edge in the trade
IWA in Nuremberg also beckons on March 3rd and it will be very interesting to see how many of our gun firms and auctioneers make it out there this year. IWA is a fascinating display of everything cutting edge in the trade and is full of key players in all the inter-related industries serving the shooting and country sports sectors.
The first British Auction of the year is also in March, with Holt’s leading the charge on the 21st and 22nd of the month. The catalogue is yet to begin showing any lots but a few tasters that came my way include a very nice 10-bore hammer gun by Holland & Holland and we anticipate a few Scottish guns to appear from Holt’s early-year foraging in the country north of the border.
Gavin Gardiner is holding his next sale on April 27th and will be in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Tiverton and London offering free valuations and taking consignments throughout March.
Bonhams, meanwhile appear to be continuing their twice yearly sales in May and November, remaining the sole auctioneer operating entirely from London. Their Antique Arms & Armour sales last year were particularly successful and this appears to be a section of the market in which Bonhams still outshines the competition. Keep an eye on teh website for notices of the 2022 sales.
customers are still anticipating a collapse in the British game gun market in anticipation of a move towards non-lead
Elsewhere, Southams, located at Bedford Auction Centre, offer a sale on March 10th and 12th. The first concentrating on guns, the second on ammunition and equipment. Wallis & Wallis have an Antique Arms & Militaria sale on March 8th but the Scotarms website is still showing details for the November 2021 auction and no mention is made of any planned for 2022, as yet.
Overseas customers are still anticipating a collapse in the British game gun market in anticipation of a move towards non-lead ammunition. It still hasn’t happened. Good, rare, interesting and unusual guns are selling well. Average boxlocks and side-locks are still struggling to raise the kind of money they deserve but that trend as been steady since the Credit Crunch bit.
Gunmakers are starting to express their views, with Westley Richards this week telling their customers to shoot bismuth instead of steel if and when a lead ban is effected or a demand not to shoot lead is put in place by commercial shoots. Steel may prove safe to shoot in older British guns but, they advise, wait until more data is available before using it in your prize possessions.
I’ll now be saving my pennies, as the usual suspects are braying that the cost of parking at the NEC for the British Shooting Show is going to bankrupt us all. Assuming I can muster the coinage required, I’ll be looking forward to seeing you all there, at the first major trade gathering of the year.
Published by Vintage Guns Ltd on (modified )
