Cyprus-Forum.com

[Nikitas]

Kafenes that is very true.

Many want the gun as a status symbol. Nothing wrong with that. But objectively a gun should be safe, mechanically reliable and, in my opinion, handle well. Handling is the one quality that the best British guns have given the world. All these qualities can be found at a reasonable price if the buyer is willing to forego the social recognition fixation. ANd he will save a bundle of money in the process.

The other day I handled a Midland hammer gun which had superb balance, going for 2000 Euro. A similar Holland next to it sells for twice that much. But everyone recognises the name Holland and very few the name Midland. The funny thing is that the locks of both were made by the same people- Brazier. Which goes to show that there are bargains out there for those that know how to look.

[purdey]

I also think there is good investment potential in a fine shotgun,they rarely lose money.

[pantheman]

Kafenes that is very true.

Many want the gun as a status symbol. Nothing wrong with that. But objectively a gun should be safe, mechanically reliable and, in my opinion, handle well. Handling is the one quality that the best British guns have given the world. All these qualities can be found at a reasonable price if the buyer is willing to forego the social recognition fixation. ANd he will save a bundle of money in the process.

The other day I handled a Midland hammer gun which had superb balance, going for 2000 Euro. A similar Holland next to it sells for twice that much. But everyone recognises the name Holland and very few the name Midland. The funny thing is that the locks of both were made by the same people- Brazier. Which goes to show that there are bargains out there for those that know how to look.

Nikitas,

its not always about status, fine guns are just that. You have to admire the craftsmanship, hours spent by hand to get thesize and smoothness.

I have handled many guns, yet when someone puts a 'fine' gun in your hands even blind floded you just know you are holding something special.

At heart I love the sxs, but I do shoot an O/U.

My boy's purdey idea (I think), whilst he knows this, was to makeup the purdey and gift it to me. Wow, I would have cried

Anyway, one can always dream right.

Its not always about status.

[IcyNoAngel]

I'm only hunting opportunities

[denizaksulu]

Deniz and Militiades,

In Athens there are wild parrots and they have made our neighborhood their home. We give them whatever help we can but these guys are strong buggers and have no hesiation in attacking any other bird who encroaches on their range.

Apparently they are survivors of some escapes from cages. I researched the phenomenon of escaped parrots creating colonies and it is common in America.

Have you guys noticed anything similar in the UK?

No, not parrots. But I told my tits to tell their cousins, the Black caps to avoid Italy and Cyprus at all costs.

[Nikitas]

Deniz,

I have been thinking about the blackcap furore. The animal lovers reaction stopped the netting. But if the black cap is no longer an exploitable resource, its habitat is no longer valuable either. So the gardens and orchards loose some of their value as HABITAT and become more valuable as DEVELOPMENT areas, ie cemented over.

In the end what benefits the blackcap, some sustainable exploitation or a total ban with no adequate environmental protection for the whole area they used in their migration?

As Professor Raoul Valdez said, "if you want to save an animal the best way is to have a price tag on his face" and he knows what he is talking about, he has spent his life saving species all around the world.

No, I do not hunt them, in fact in Greece they are not valued as game at all. So I dont have a vested interest in the issue. But I do hate cement and the word "Developer" makes blood rush to my head.

[denizaksulu]

Deniz,

I have been thinking about the blackcap furore. The animal lovers reaction stopped the netting. But if the black cap is no longer an exploitable resource, its habitat is no longer valuable either. So the gardens and orchards loose some of their value as HABITAT and become more valuable as DEVELOPMENT areas, ie cemented over.

In the end what benefits the blackcap, some sustainable exploitation or a total ban with no adequate environmental protection for the whole area they used in their migration?

As Professor Raoul Valdez said, "if you want to save an animal the best way is to have a price tag on his face" and he knows what he is talking about, he has spent his life saving species all around the world.

No, I do not hunt them, in fact in Greece they are not valued as game at all. So I dont have a vested interest in the issue. But I do hate cement and the word "Developer" makes blood rush to my head.

I hate over development too Nikitas. In spite of the ban on hunting the migratory birds in Cyprus, you always find 'estimates' showing how many were killed.
When I look north of the Kyrenia mountain range (the Pentadaktylos range) and see the amount of concreted over land, I cringe.
In the south it happens too but due to its much larger size it does not look so drastic.

Regards

[Nikitas]

"when someone puts a 'fine' gun in your hands even blind floded you just know you are holding something special. "

Pantheman, vey well said. That is why I want to create a "touch museum" where people will be allowed to handle the exhibits, perhaps even do the blindfolded test on many objects, including fine guns. Mass producction and forced standardisation has deprived us of quality and the ability to judge it. As hunters and target shooters we are lucky, gunmakers seem to be the last manufacturing segment who offer real quality products.

[purdey]

while I tend to agree with the majority of what you are saying.I do however think the trade has suffered over the past decade.Attention to detail has gone by the way side,and the old guys who built a reputation on quality are fast disapearing.
My biggest bug bear at the moment is the influx of Turkish walnut to the market and reputable gun houses passing it off as French...

[Nikitas]

Purdey,

Recently I came across the Brazier site and read with great interest Lippard's opinion on the death of hand work. He emphasised the value of proper CNC machine utilisation.

It reminded me of the CNC machines I saw in Gardone a fewmonths before shaping all parts from the solid with amazing accuracy. I was never convinced about hand work, having tried many times to file flat and square and after lots of practice and ruined parts. The hand is still invaluable in regulating and getting that "just right" feel to a shotgun made by accurate machines. This is how Perazzi do it and one of their guns would suit me very nicely!

I know what you mean by the walnut influx. I find Turkish walnut too dark and gloomy, not enough contrast. Greek and Yugoslav trees yield the same type of dark walnut. Although I did manage to find some lighter pieces for my guns. One type that has impressed me is Bastogne walnut, which apparently is a hybrid btween European and American trees. And even though it sounds like heresy, I find pure American walnut a bit sympatico if finished right.

I am a stickler on wood finishing by the way. ALways finish my stocks personally and always with my special linseed oil method. No compromises on that part of the process!