Pigeon... fancier: William & Son's new pigeon gun

William & Son is known for making small numbers of unusual guns, and when you’re used to everyday English game guns, their new Deluxe 12 bore self-opening sidelock ejector Pigeon Gun, certainly counts as unusual.

The action, which has a traditional clip side and concealed third bite, traditional on pigeon guns, allows extra strength for the gun whilst using the heavier loads required. The action body is also larger than the traditional game gun allowing for extra weight to help absorb recoil. Although the weight is 7 lb 8 oz, again, to allow for heavier loads, it is balanced to promote swing and pointability and handles very nicely.

The rib is a traditional flat matted and stippled to reduce glare, and this particular gun has a 15 ¼ inch pistol grip made from exhibition grade stock with an engraved grip cap. The double triggers and a double rolled-edge trigger guard gives that extra detail of elegance and comfort to the shot.

 

The engraving takes on the form of the traditional William & Son large scroll, however it is more deeply carved in this instance to give distinction from the more traditional game gun and compliment the larger action body with elegance.

 

Ian Andrews, the Gun Room manager at William & Son, told us that the project was inspired by a conversation at the Dallas Safari Club. He went on to add. “It was a really interesting project to undertake. The US market is very strong for us and in many areas, pigeon shooting is very popular. We saw an opening in the market to satisfy this, moving away from the trend of historic guns.”

 

Although named a ‘Pigeon Gun’, it should suit high pheasant enthusiasts as well, notes Ian: “We also saw the opportunity for the UK home market where there is a fashion for the sport of high birds in which heavy over and unders are seen as the go too. We thought it would be rather fun to create an offering for the more traditional game shot that very much enjoys shooting with side-by-sides by may have felt under-gunned in this situation.”

 

 

Throughout our conversation that word ‘fun’ keeps cropping up, which seems refreshing, and perhaps reflects the company’s playful take on gunmaking, as well as the desire to keep innovating. “ It is always a challenge to push ourselves outside of the comfort zone in which we traditionally work,” Ian said. “For example, building a heavier gun but ensuring the most sublime handling, in this case. It is a mark of the skills of our craftsmen that they have achieved while maintaining the traditional elegance of William & Son guns - I am most proud of our them!”.

 

This is a gun that crosses many boundaries, from pigeon shooting in Texas through to high birds in Devon, making it a truly British gun, suitable for the UK market, those that visit us from abroad and our friends across the pond.