Crafting in Basque

Tracing the path of gunmaking in Spain

Mention the words "fine, hand-made, European shotgun," and one image that springs to mind is of an elderly craftsman with a file in his hand hunched over a vise. His tools are older than he is, and there is the smell of linseed oil in the air. To a great extent, this image is accurate. But not entirely. The way a gun is made varies from country to country, and even an ancient industry steeped in tradition, such as the one in the Basque Country of Spain, uses some surprisingly sophisticated methods.

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