Engraving

I really can appreciate a nice engraving on a gun or a knife. To bad that it is expensive ( which is logical considering the amount of time and skill that goes in a fine engraving) and the turn around time is relatively long when you have a famous engraver.

Years ago I bought a deactivated high grade shotgun, just for the engraving on it and have it on my wall. It is made around 1920 (I could be of by plus/minus ten years) The maker Watson Bros is still around today, and is located in London. It costed me $120 which is nothing, considering the work that has gone in it. Anyway, here are some pics, also for the dog lovers

It has a "crossover" stock for a shooter who is left eye dominate and right handed.

I was not familiar with a crossover stock.
Does it look something like this:

Left eye dominate, better to learn to shoot with both open on a pistol.
almost the same for defense close up with a shot gun.......hunting a whole other story!

Yes it does exactly look like that David. This shotgun would have been perfect for me because I have the same problem.
When I shoot pistol/revolver, I always shoot with my right eye closed and the pistol in my right hand or both hands.

Fortunately when I shoot, I can shoot good enough this way.
@ Chief: I tried shooting with both eyes open years ago when I started competition shooting, but it doesn't work for me.

I am right handed left eye dominant and I have trained myself to shoot both eyes open any weapon even though a scope. It does take some getting used to but in fact I feel my facial muscles are more relaxed.

Always shoot skeet and all other clay sports with both
eyes open ... You don't "aim" a shot gun, you point it.
At least in skeet.

Oh ... BEAUTIFUL engraving!

Tony

Cool which competition?

I tried Warren, but I cant't get a good and fast sight picture that way. It indeed ads stress to keep one eye closed. I can't read a newspaper with my right eye, my left I is 100% good, which I am real happy about! I can shoot ten shot groups, 2" or smaller at 10 meters/11 yards all day long. On 25 meter I can get them all in the black, mostly in the 9 circle (using both hands), so I can't complain, but I would love to have a good right eye.

Chief, mostly 25 meters, 1 hand shooting and we have a competition that is typically dutch that we call military pistol. That is also one handed and we have service pistol, that is when you can choose between one or two hands shooting. Here is an example of service pistol: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyQDgOzOnGc This is not me but gives you an idea.

This is the target that we use for regular one handed shooting at 25 meters, the ten ring is 2 inches.

Thanks Tony! I believe they call it English scroll engraving. I read somewhere that the good engravers around the twenties/thirties in London, worked for different companies like Holland & Holland, Purdey, Watson Bros and were mostly self employed. They were hired externally by these companies.

Interesting I'll have to give it a try.

I love to shoot these competitions. I also tried IPSC a couple of times which is also fun. Do you also shoot competition Chief?

I am basically right-handed with left eye dominant. When I started shooting in the mid-60's with the CU team, the coach had me wear an eye patch over my left eye. Later, in the service, I was taught to focus using my right eye and ignore my left.
Now, in my 70's, I have developed the habit of slightly squinting my left eye to focus on my right. Yeah, it causes fatigue and probably reduces my ability, but I still have fun.

I have a right lazy eye and when they discovered it, it was to late to patch it up. I was to old. I believe when you are older then eight, it doesn't help anymore. I don't have squinting eyes so my parents and the doctor didn't noticed it.

There are a lot worse things in life, so I am not complaining. Indeed having a good time while shooting is the most important. The fun thing is, that I can outshout practically everybody (if not everybody) with a pistol at our shooting club. Yes, I know that sounds a little arrogant I can also give a very long list of things that I am not good at, so this keeps it a little in balance

No I can't give it the time I think it deserves.
I shoot with a lot of police officers & former military that want me to shoot on their squad.
I shoot better than some of them often........but I think that practice & friendly competition & real competition are very different.

but I think that practice & friendly competition & real competition are very different. [/quote]

True, real competition ads stress. In my case I must sometimes go to other shooting ranges, where they are being held. That is always less fun then a competition on your "own" range. A few hours drive to shoot five or ten minutes and half or more of the day is gone... I sometimes do it (a lot more in the past) but mostly do friendly competition at
our own club.

I've tried shooting with both eyes closed, that doesn't work either..
Stunning engraving.
A bargain at $120 as a Work of Art.

LOL Thanks, yeah I was lucky to find this one. I once called the company in London about the age of the gun and the background. They wanted 75 pound to look it up, that is about as much as I paid for the whole shotgun, haha I read somewhere about another owner of a Watson Bros shotgun who knew the age of his gun, and with that information, I could figure out the approximate date.

Arrogant sounding
owner of that shotgun company, all they have to do is look in the old order book and mail it to me. 15 pounds would have been enough also in my opinion. They are used to people spending 50k or more on a shotgun, and probably laugh ad somebody with a deactivated shotgun. This is a company that serves the lords and the other real rich people in England. To bad for him because I was just thinking about buying one of his new shotguns, but after that experience decided to keep our house

Here is an
interesting YouTube video about the company:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX2OeSx7keg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMtVW2gSJ40

They do make real nice rifles!