By Donald Dallas
Hard Cover 421 Pages
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Globepequot.com
1-800-223-2336
Donald Dallas is a noteworthy English gun writer who consistently chronicles the gun trade in the British Isles.
In this big 12-inch by 9½-inch by 1¼-inch thick book he undertakes the monumental task of chronicling the development of the famed Best Quality guns of the British Isles through the wild formative years from the muzzleloading era to the smokeless powder modern guns.
The book is extremely well illustrated with a mix of period photos and modern color photos along with patent drawings of many of the wild and wonderful paths the gunmakers trod in their endless search for perfection that culminated in the side by side double rifle and double shotgun we see still made today.
Many of the famous hunters and explorers of those days are shown as well giving the reader a true feel for those times when the world’s maps had many blank spaces still being filled in by intrepid hunters and explorers. The way hunting was done in those bygone days in all its forms are clearly shown along with enough background to help you understand just what sport shooting looked like then.
For those interested in the different mechanisms tried in those years this is a prime reference work with numerous clear line drawings of just how they worked. Donald Dallas doesn’t just talk about them, he shows clearly what they are and how they work. Some of the things tried are truly fascinating and they all worked well enough to sell some guns to men who would really put them through hard use.
Today many of these are bewildering to those who expect the more standardized mechanisms seen today. Some of them look standard on the outside but are patently different on the inside.
This book is a carefully crafted combination of history, mechanics, and beautiful photos that often cover a full page. It is a delight to read and peruse.—Jim Dickson
