Some time ago I was given a gun by someone I had served with in the past. His Father had been a Game Keeper on a big Scottish estate before the turn of the 20th Century. 'Jock' gave me the gun in it's homemade oak wood case, and in the case was this knife which I've placed alongside my Leatherman for size comparison.
'Spratts' the gamebird feed manufacturer founded in the 1860's, they still trade and have a premises at Selkirk in the Scottish Borders. Apparently these knives were 'Freebies' handed out to favoured clients by Spratts Salesmen.
You will observe the knife has a Button Hook fitted, essential kit in an age when both Keepers and Gentleman guns wore button closure gaiters.
As was common, the bolster on the knife is cut to facilitate the withdrawal of fired cartridges of both 12 and 16 bore. This in an age when it was not unknown for a fired paper case cartridge to swell and so become difficult to extract from non ejector guns.
Cleaning kit for the gun was kept in two small leather pouches, one of which is shown. Also included was a game record book of the period. It's marked E C Powders which was the name from the 1880's of a branch of what had been the earlier 'Explosives Company'
Not really for this forum, but the gun is by W R Pape of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He made guns ranging from everyday working guns assembled from Birmingham parts to fine quality 'Best' guns. This gun was presented to Jock's Father in recognition of his long and faithful service as a Game Keeper to various members of the aristocracy over many years.
'Spratts' the gamebird feed manufacturer founded in the 1860's, they still trade and have a premises at Selkirk in the Scottish Borders. Apparently these knives were 'Freebies' handed out to favoured clients by Spratts Salesmen.
You will observe the knife has a Button Hook fitted, essential kit in an age when both Keepers and Gentleman guns wore button closure gaiters.
As was common, the bolster on the knife is cut to facilitate the withdrawal of fired cartridges of both 12 and 16 bore. This in an age when it was not unknown for a fired paper case cartridge to swell and so become difficult to extract from non ejector guns.
Cleaning kit for the gun was kept in two small leather pouches, one of which is shown. Also included was a game record book of the period. It's marked E C Powders which was the name from the 1880's of a branch of what had been the earlier 'Explosives Company'
Not really for this forum, but the gun is by W R Pape of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He made guns ranging from everyday working guns assembled from Birmingham parts to fine quality 'Best' guns. This gun was presented to Jock's Father in recognition of his long and faithful service as a Game Keeper to various members of the aristocracy over many years.
