Guest Gun: A Bespoke Experience

I was nearing retirement, the major expenses in my life were taken care of, and my children were grown and gone. I started thinking about rewarding myself with a retirement gift. I’d watched my pennies and kept life simple, and that was worth a reward. No Corvette or cruise, nor even a safari to Africa; no big RV, no camp in the woods. I already knew what my reward would be: I wanted a bespoke gun from the UK. I had yearned for years to own one . . . but which one?
    I needed some sound advice, so I called my friend and SSM Contributing Editor Michael McIntosh. I have a deep respect for Michael’s opinions and advice. “Michael,” I asked, “if money were no object, which gun would you order today?” His answer came quickly: “Lee, if money were no object, I would order two: A Peter Nelson 12-bore and a McKay Brown 20-bore.” That was a bit too big of a retirement gift; I had to choose one.
    A year or so prior I had hunted with a gentleman who owned a gun by David McKay Brown, so I already had a strong admiration for McKay Brown’s work. But when it comes to making such important decisions, I believe in second opinions. I called another friend: SSM Editor at Large Douglas Tate, who, like Michael, has written extensively on fine guns. When I told Doug what I was considering doing, he wanted to know if I would be ordering the gun in the near future. He and his wife, Bonny, were going to be in the UK for Christmas, and if I could time my trip to coincide with theirs, he would happily introduce me to McKay Brown. That was all the encouragement I needed.
    On the flight across the Atlantic, thoughts of engraving styles, exhibition-grade Circassian walnut, chokes and barrel lengths were racing through my mind. Once on the ground my intense anticipation was further rewarded, as the Scottish scenery was all that I had imagined it would be. Doug, Bonny and I had reservations at the Bothwell Bridge Hotel, in Bothwell, just a few miles outside of Glasgow.
    By 9 the next morning the three of us were heading up Hamilton Road to No. 32, the McKay Brown shop. David’s wife and business partner, Alexe, answered the door with a welcoming smile and then went into the shop to fetch David. When the two returned, Doug made introductions all around. Friendly and obviously devoted to his profession, David immediately began talking about his guns and the craftsmen who build them. From the reverent emotion in his voice, I felt like I was in church. We met his fine staff, including barrel filer James McDonald, lockmaker Douglas Proctor, actioner Robin Moir, and stocker Brian Sinclair. The men graciously acknowledged us and then returned to their work.
    We soon got down to business, as David asked what kind of gun I was interested in. I already had made up my mind: “A 20-bore side-by-side with 29" barrels, double triggers, straight stock, splinter forend, and a classic game rib.” I wanted the gun to balance in front of the hinge pin, and I requested a weight of 6 pounds 4 ounces and trigger pulls of 31/2 and 4 pounds. Because I shoot over English setters, I chose chokes of Skeet 1 and a loose Modified. David said he would regulate the barrels with 7/8 oz of No. 7 shot.
    Finished with those technicalities, we moved to engraving. I looked at Celtic, game scenes with inlays, and large and small Scottish scroll, each with case-hardened colors or a coin finish. I decided on large Scottish scroll with a case-colored finish. It so happened that one of the finished guns in David’s rack had this combination, but I changed my mind after he showed me another gun with small Scottish scroll and a coin finish. The coin finish highlighted the intricate engraving pattern so well that I thought it a shame to hide the engraver’s work with a darker finish.
    And then it was on to wood—exhibition-grade Circassian walnut. David brought out five blanks from his wood room, all of which were spectacular. I glanced at Doug to see if he had the same expression that I did. They were all spectacular. After what seemed like an eternity I decided, and David pointed out the strength that my choice would offer through the wrist.
At David’s shooting grounds outside of town, I fired rounds at the pattern plate as David made adjustments to the try-gun. When we were both pleased, we shook hands and called it a deal.
    In November 2005 I took delivery of the gun, and it was immediately blooded on ruffed grouse. The 20-bore is everything I hoped it would be—a joy to shoot and a delight to look at.
    Every time I handle the gun, Doug Tate’s words echo in my mind: “Don’t think of it as a gun—think of it as investing in a work of art.” A work of art it is, but Mona Lisa could never be as much fun on a hunt.  —Lee A. Leone