Gun Trade News 104 by The Game Fair Ltd

FEWER SHOOTERS, MORE GUNS

Latest Home Office Statistics show continual decline in number of shooters, yet gun numbers and RFDs are on the up

The latest statistics on gun ownership from the Home Offce up until 31 March 2024 make fascinating reading for the trade. While the 40-year downward trend in the number of frearms and shotgun certifcates issued continues, the total number of rifes and guns continues to rise.

Here are the key fgures from the annual report:

• There were 147,364 frearm certifcates on issue, a 0.2% increase compared with 31 March 2023

• There were 495,798 shotgun certifcates on issue, a 1% decrease compared with 31 March 2023

• 510,717 people held a frearm and or a shotgun certifcate, a 1% decrease compared with 31 March 2023

• 510 temporary frearm permits were granted, an 84% decrease compared with 31 March 2023

• 1,042 temporary shotgun permits were granted, an 87% decrease compared with 31 March 2023

The fgures also reveal that there are 54 more Registered Firearms Dealers (RFDs) than last year, although this increase may be explained by the need for new registrations for already-licensed outlets in different geographical areas— at shows, for example.

Our tables show the rate of fall over the last 40 years. If the current decline in the number of shotgun certifcates continues GTN has calculated it will be less than 70 years before there are no certifcates held in the country.

As always, the Firearm Certifcate numbers have all to be taken circumspectly as they include moderators as well as guns, so a clear picture is harder to discern.

Full report click here

The FX Impact M4 is available in four models, the Compact (pictured), Standard, Sniper and Extended and is available from Sportsman Gun Centre on 01392 354 870.

FIREARM CERTIFICATES LAST 40 YEARS

The latest iteration of the highly successful Impact FX range has been released in the UK. Sportsman Gun Centre has models available in black or copper fnishes.

Enhancements and upgrades is the order of the day, with the M4 being an evolution of the M3 rather than a brand new iteration. The piston has been upgraded offering the M4 faster refresh rates, enhanced consistency and allowing the gun to work at higher pressures (Max 170 BAR for FAC units).

A new trigger offers adjustable weight at the turn of a screw, and a new grip of

• Compact 12ft/lb RRP: £1774.99/ FAC RRP: £1859.99

• Standard 12ft/lb RRP: £1824.99/ FAC RRP: £1859.99

• Sniper FAC RRP: £1,964.99

• Extended FAC RRP: £2,001.99

SHOTGUN REVOCATIONS

The Home Offce Statistics (above) also show an alarming increase in the number of revocations for frearms certifcates over the 2023-2024 period. A ‘revocation’ is when a licence is taken away. The data shows that 507 frearm certifcates were revoked (a 21% annual increase), while 1,559 shotgun certifcates were also revoked (a 34% annual increase).

Refusals were also up, at an average of six per cent for both frearms and shotguns. In all cases, these refusals and revocations were at the highest rate since comparable records began.

Turn to page 9 for more on this story, where BASC’s Conor O’Gorman delves deeper into the fgures and outlines what should be done to challenge this trend.

Published by:

Stable Events, Invision House, Wilbury Way, Hitchin, England, SG4 0TY www.guntradenews.com

Editor-in-Chief: Steve Faragher, steve.faragher@guntradenews.com

Art Editor: Joe Burt

Consultant Editor: Lee Hurst

Advertising: Lee Hurst 07 949 111 539 lee.hurst@thegamefair.org

Publisher: Gemma Payne

WE SAY

I’m relieved that at least one of my predictions has come true, becuase it is just what the trade needed.

As suggested last issue, there was little or nothing in the King’s Speech at the State Opening of Parliament that should frighten us. In fact I was reminded of that old axiom that the best news for shooting is not to be in the news at all.

There is, of course, still some threat of the odd private member’s bill or two, particularly from amongst the new draft of fresh-eyed MPs… or may be not. Could it be we are winning the argument on sustainability for our practices with the younger generation? There is a tolerant attitude amongts these millennials to divergence from the norm that may mean they are happy to let us carry on shooting as long as we don’t hurt anyone else.

There are however some areas of legislation that clear-eyed commentators have picked up on which will have an impact on us. Licensing is one key area, with the Labour Party Manifesto promising “full cost recovery” on the issuing of frearms licences. So long as that is matched by “full delivery” I’m not sure that too many will have a problem with that, in fact it is what the GTA has been campaigning for.

More concerningly, the alarming statistics on refusal and revocation that have been highighted by the latest Home Offce statistics highlights how ‘risk-averse’

“ Some shooters will simply have given up ”

licensing offcers could have a serious impact on our trade, and the very low number of shotgun applications last year is no doubt in part down to the frustration of some shooters who will simpy have given up, and that is not good news for us.

So let us hope for a period of relative quiet and stability, with an economy on the upturn. All of which will be good for business. Just nobody mention the lead ban. Steve

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Around the UK and abroad, all the top stories digested

BASC Women in Shooting launches in Scotland

omen from across the feldsports spectrum came together to celebrate the launch of BASC’s Women in Shooting initiative in Scotland. More than 50 women attended a reception hosted by BASC vice chair Claire Sadler at the GWCT Scottish Game Fair on Saturday.

BASC Women in Shooting aims to promote the inclusivity of shooting sports and celebrate the diversity of the women involved. It also seeks to represent and protect all forms of shooting from air gunning and target shooting right through to deer management and game shooting.

Women-only events have been planned throughout Scotland, ranging from clay pigeon shooting competitions to a simulated Macnab day.

Claire Sadler said: “It was fantastic to launch BASC Women in Shooting at the Scottish Game Fair, and to see the enthusiasm for this initiative.

“BASC is playing a pivotal role in promoting feldsports amongst women, and our events provide a wonderful opportunity for women to try out shooting.

“This event was a springboard for so much more to come.”

Daystate/BRK Experience day is hailed as a huge success

Following the success of the inaugural two-day Daystate and BRK Experience, the companies have announced the event will run again in 2025 at a new venue.

Airgun enthusiasts from across the country took part in the July Daystate and BRK Experience—an extravaganza of shooting, workshops and presentations— at Oakedge Shooting Ground.

More than 150 shooters took advantage of the opportunity to try out the entire Daystate and BR ranges of ri es, on targets out to 100 meters with more than 7,000 pellets shot.

Guidance and advice were on hand from extreme benchrest expert Chris Jen-

sen, who travelled to the event from Airguns of Arizona, as well as members of the Daystate and BRK Airgunners’ Support Pack (ASP).

In addition, Airgun World and The Airgun Show’s Mat Manning and Rich Saunders delivered presentations on how to decoy pigeons and corvids and how to get a shooting permission.

“Everyone had a great time. There were plenty of guns to shoot and lots of opportunity to chat to the experts and with fellow airgun enthusiasts,” said a delighted Tony Belas.

“The 2025 Daystate and BRK Experience will be even bigger and better.”

Eat Wild reveals an annual increase of 15.2% in retail game sales

Eat Wild, the development board for wild meat in the UK, has announced that data gathered by Kantar shows that game sales in retail from the year covering April 2023 to April 2024 increased by an impressive 15.2%.

Louisa Clutterbuck, CEO of Eat Wild told GTN “Our mission is to lead the charge in encouraging the public to eat more consciously, healthily, and sustainably. It is clear to see that food provenance and quality is trending and we aim to continue to promote the consumption of wild meat to as many new people as possible in a way that it’s never been seen before. We have secured huge new mar-

kets for game in recent months and we will continue to approach supermarkets such as Tesco and Asda to get wild meat on the shelves and expand their offering. Keep following us and watch this space.”

Fieldsports Press continues to grow

Edinburgh-based specialist media operator, Fieldsports Press, has announced the acquisition of Gunmart, Gun Trade World, What Gun?, and The Sporting Airgun Handbook from David Hall Publishing (DHP).

The move consolidates Fieldsports Press’s position as the only major feldsports publisher in the UK after its purchases of all of Archant and Future Publishing’s titles last year.

Selena Barr, co-founder and COO of Fieldsports Press, commented: “These esteemed titles are a perfect ft for our expanding media group. By integrating these renowned brands, both consumer and B2B, we are enhancing our capability to deliver unparalleled engagement.”

GTN gets record newsletter openings

The newsletter announcing the last issue of GTN (103) was opened by a record 80.5% of recipients, the highest fgure GTN has achieved since going digital. From next month GTN will be published as a newsletter only, recognising this powerful shift in its audience’s reading habits. The newsletter will feature an engaging new design and will link through to full stories on our website.

Claire Sadler

Grouse moor licensing portal opens in Scotland

The licensing portal by which all grouse moors in Scotland must apply for their licence has been launched on July 15, less than a month before the start of the grouse season.

The portal can be accessed at https:// www.nature.scot/professional-advice/ protected-areas-and-species/licensing/ species-licensing-z-guide/red-grouseand-licensing

The move follows on from the Scottish government’s move to introduce licensing, a move that is undoubtedly being watched closely by politicians from other parts of the UK.

The portal is clear on the new obligations of grouse moor managers, stating: “The land on which red grouse may be killed or taken must be licensed. This applies to both walked-up and driven grouse shooting. The licence holder must be the owner or occupier of the land. An occupier is someone who has shooting rights on the land. For example, a sporting tenant. It is illegal to shoot or take red grouse from an area without a licence.”

BASC Scotland director Peter Clark called for applications to be processed speedily. “Our members are concerned that until now there has been no online system for licence applications and despite NatureScot stating the system will be working and delivering licences in advance of 12 August, there remain concerns about processing applications.

“BASC therefore seeks robust assurance from NatureScot that all those wishing to shoot grouse in 2024 will be fully licensed by 12 August 2024.

“The grouse shooting sector in Scotland must not be placed in such a challenging situation so close to its most important date, given the risk to jobs, livelihoods and the rural economy.”

Scottish Country Sports Tourism Awards 2024

The Scottish Country Sports Tourism Awards were held on Saturday July 1 at the GWCT Scottish Game Fair, recognising providers of country sports who are going the extra mile to deliver exceptional experiences to sporting clients.

The awards, presented on the Scottish Land & Estates stand, recognised the exceptional contributions of estates, sporting agencies and innovators of country sports tourism in Scotland. The event frmly demonstrated the sector’s value to Scotland’s rural economy.

The awards were organised by BASC’s Country Sport Scotland division.

Speaking after the awards, Eoghan Cameron of BASC said “Each recipient sets a benchmark for excellence in responsible tourism practices and environmental stewardship, ensuring Scotland’s

All quiet on The King’s front

The shooting community breathed a sigh of relief after the inaugural ing’s Speech from the new Labor government had no bills affecting hunting at all.

With close to 40 bills put forward, this will be a busy parliament, and so it seems unlikely that we will face any new challenges. Of course, the HSE is still due to report on its lead survey towards the end of this year.

continued appeal as a premier destination for country sports enthusiasts.”

THE WINNERS

• Best Sporting Estate 2023: Logiealmond Estate

• Best Sporting Agency 2023: South Ayrshire Stalking

• 2023’s Sporting Innovator: The Wild Order Ltd

HIGHLY COMMENDED

• Benmore Estate

• International Hunting Scotland

• Loch Ness Rural Communities

Longthorne opens US office

British shotgun makers Longthorne has announce the formation of a S offce.

The newly-formed business, Longthorne SA C, has a fully edged Federal Firearms Licence that allows it to trade guns in the US. “This strategic move will allow us to provide more localized support, faster response times, and a more personalized experience for our valued partners and clients,” said a spokesperson for the frm.

New online hub for target shooters launches

British Shooting has launched a new online community website that is now live and open to all. Called the British Shooting Clubhouse, British Shooting say that it is designed as the ’s premier online hub for the Great British shooting community, It’s a place to connect, learn, celebrate success, and share news.”

The hub features an event calendar, features and news on Paris 2024, detailed explanations of all Olympic and Paralympic shooting disciplines and dedicated spaces for pathway athletes.

To fnd out more search for British Shooting Clubhouse”

The Times lists top 5 sim days

A recent feature in The Times has acknowledged the growing popularity of sim days. With the help of Guns On Pegs Digby Taylor and The Country Girls, the feature suggested fve top sim days and their cost. Here are the winners:

1. Raisthorpe Manor, Malton, Yorkshire

£430 + VAT per person for a team of 16; 32 people max

2. Coombe End Estate, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

£7,000 + VAT for a team of 16.

3. West Wycombe Estate, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

£275 + VAT per person for a team of 16

4. Great Tew Estate, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire

£4,107 + VAT for 8-16 guns

5. Carswell, South Hams, Devon About £200 per person for a team of 12-18

THE GTN JOSE SOUTO

The award-winning game cook and Chef Lecturer at Westminster Kingsway College is to champion sustainable shooting with heritage British brand Eley Hawke

INDUSTRY-leading manufacturer of fne shotgun cartridges for cla and game shooters, le Haw , has confrmed that ose Souto, the award winning game coo and Chef ecturer at estminster ingswa College, is the latest to oin its ran of ambassadors. e sat down with ose to discuss all things le Haw , shooting, and game har esting.

Q: here did our passion for shooting stem from

A: “My passion for shooting began in Spain, spending summers with my uncles. I remember the excitement of hunting quail, partridge, and rabbit. The thrill of the hunt and the camaraderie with my uncles were unforgettable. This early exposure instilled a lifelong love for shooting and even led me to falconry. I particularly enjoy the unpredictability of walked-up shooting, which aligns with my culinary interests, providing a variety of game for my kitchen.”

Q: h le Haw

A: “I chose to work with Eley because of their rich history and innovative mindset. They were the frst to really educate me about cartridges, opening their doors and explaining the intricacies of their

production. What stands out about Eley is its proactive approach in developing lead-free cartridges, and staying ahead of future regulations. Their willingness to share knowledge and their dedication to sustainability makes them a perfect ft for me.”

Q: hat is the importance of shooting and eating game

A: “For me, shooting is not just about the sport; it’s about the ethical and sustainable harvesting of game for food. It’s crucial to effciently and humanely kill game to ensure it’s safe for consumption and free from toxins. The camaraderie and enjoyment of shooting are important, but ultimately, it’s about providing food. Shooting game for the table brings a deeper purpose and connection to the food we eat.”

Q: How ha e perceptions of game changed o er the ears

A: “Over the years, I’ve seen a shift in how people perceive shooting and game harvesting. There’s a growing awareness of the need for sustainable and ethical practices. The focus has shifted towards ensuring that game is harvested for food responsibly and humanely. This change in perception is encouraging, as more

“ The thrill of the hunt and the camaraderie with my uncles were unforgettable ”

people recognise the importance of sustainable food sources.”

Q: hat does the future landscape of shooting and game har esting loo li e

A: “The future of shooting and game harvesting depends on our community’s ability to present itself positively and responsibly. We need to take proactive measures to avoid negative press, such as stopping the persecution of birds of prey and managing predator populations to maintain ecological balance. I hope that more people will recognise the value of game as a sustainable food source. Our efforts today will shape the future landscape of our sport and its role in sustainable food production.” GTN GTN

THE GAME LARDER

Jose is perhaps best known for his two highly regarded game larder books—Venison and Feathers

REVOCATIONS AND REFUSALS RISING

Conor O’Gorman reviews the latest firearms licensing data and the use of BASC’s Fighting Fund to challenge unfair revocations and refusals.

THE latest Home Offce frearms licensing statistics for ngland and ales pril 2 23 to arch 2 2 show a signifcant rise in re ocations and refusals b do ens of police forces.

The data, taken off the National Firearms Licensing Management System, shows that 507 frearm certifcates were revoked (21% annual increase), whilst 1,559 shotgun certifcates were also revoked (a 34% annual increase).

Some 414 people were refused a new grant application for a frearm certifcate (a 6% annual increase) and 1,072 people were refused a shotgun certifcate (also a 6% annual increase).

Why are annual revocations and refusals numbers going up?

In the aftermath of the Keyham shootings, police forces have become even more risk adverse in decision making, and new statutory guidance has widened the scope of checks police can make.

We do not want unsuitable people having access to frearms, but frearms licensing departments are increasingly depriving perfectly safe people of their certifcates due to a ero-risk tolerance approach and abrogating responsibility for decision making to a judge.

Guardians

Forces need to be held to account and that is where BASC comes in.

In addition to felding thousands of phone calls and email queries on all matters relating to frearms licensing, BASC’s frearms team and legal advisers also help do ens of people annually with what we consider to be unfair decision making.

Through its network of regional and country teams BASC works hard to maintain positive working relationships with frearms licensing departments across the UK and as a result can resolve many cases amicably.

However, sometimes BASC needs to bring in the lawyers, and to go to court, and below are three recent case studies

that have given police forces across the land food for thought.

ast year, the frearms team was contacted by a Young Shot member aged nine who had been refused a shotgun certifcate on the grounds of his age alone. The Firearms Act has no minimum age for the grant of a shotgun certifcate and

negotiated settlement. However, after protracted correspondence from BASC and its legal advisors the certifcate was eventually granted.

Turning to revocations, we have had to go to court to resolve two cases so far this year, one of them in Cheshire, the other in Kent.

“ Police forces have become even more risk adverse in decision making ”

any applicant must be judged according to the statutory test, irrespective of age. In this case, the youngster came from a shooting family, was a member of a clay shooting club and had regular lessons. The youngster was interviewed by the director of frearms and a relevant regional director and both concluded the refusal was unjust.

With the support of its Fighting Find, BASC agreed to support an appeal to the Crown Court. Initially, the chief offcer refused to accede to re uests for a

In the Cheshire case, while I am unable to divulge the details, the circumstances surrounding this revocation were a clear injustice based on an ill-considered and risk-averse decision by Cheshire Constabulary and we supported the member with his appeal which he won.

In the other case, BASC member Chris Sharp won an appeal against the revocation of his frearm and shotgun certifcates by ent Police.

The appeal was upheld as the judge and magistrate panel were of the view

that Mr Sharp was clearly the victim of an unprovoked assault, not the instigator, was not a threat to public safety, and was not of “intemperate habits”.

In the fnal written judgement, it was concluded that we do not fnd any evidence which supports the fndings of the Chief Constable”.

Cost control

These cases incurred signifcant legal costs but thanks to the Fighting Fund the members did not suffer any fnancial loss. Indeed, for the two revocation cases the judge awarded some of the costs back to us—which the police had to pay—a rather rare event and indicative of just how ill-advised the revocations were.

Turning back to the Home Offce data, is the recent increase in revocations and refusals just a temporary spike in numbers? It’s hard to know until we see next year’s fgures.

However, to put things in perspective, the total number of shotgun and frearm certifcates revoked in England and Wales were both circa 0.3% of the total number of respective certifcates on issue as of March 31 2024 (495,798 shotgun certifcates and 147,364 frearm certifcates).

A much bigger concern is the ongoing drop in shotgun certifcate holders in England and ales which is mainly due to people not renewing their certifcate. Last year alone, renewals were down 19,850 from the previous year and since the 2020 Covid pandemic shotgun certifcate holders have dropped by 71,000.

We have not seen drops of that scale in Scotland and Northern Ireland and the key driver is likely more people giving up due to a combination of backlogs in renewals and the introduction of GP verifcation and fees.

That is why it is so important that we continue to push for improvements in frearms licensing nationally, as well as holding individual police forces to account for decision making. GTN GTN

IT’S IN THE DNA

We can all see the examples of bad business DNA around us, but Stuart Farr recommends changing that and smartening up your directorial practices, before you fall foul of the law

I recently came across a dog owner’s witty observation, which is that the main beneft of owning and li ing with a labrador, is that it opens your eyes to the fact so much of the world is edible.

Labradors are well known, of course, for being af icted with a genetic mutation which renders their appetites somewhat more rampant than most other breeds of dog. Their feeling of hunger simply does not switch off in the same way, even after a substantial meal. It is not their fault, and for the large part it is not their owner’s fault either. Although perhaps the unconscious way in which, over many years, humans have selected dogs which have responded more positively to training through treats and rewards, possibly has not helped.

The need for labrador owners to compensate by exercising special control over their beloved dogs’ diets, doesn’t cure the dog of its genetic compulsion to eat between meals. It merely controls the symptoms of obesity and bad health associated with the unfortunate trait. All of which leads me to wonder whether there are hundreds, if not thousands, of labradors out there, walking around with the confused feeling they are being purposely and slowly starved to death by their kind and loving owners.

This only serves to illustrate what an extremely powerful phenomenon DNA can be. It not only drives behaviour, but it renders many behaviours into something so fundamentally instinctive, that the host has little or no choice but to obey.

DNA positive

And not all DNA-driven traits are negative either. On the contrary, when taken right down to base level, it is possible to discern how many of the positive things around us are derived from the core fabric of our own instinctive re uirement to see and experience the good stuff. hen we make good things happen, it provides us with that treat or reward feeling. In essence, I venture, we are very much our own labrador.

At the moment, after the most dramatic and conclusive change of government, I imagine many of us are left uestioning whether, what was left of the good stuff in the bottom of the proverbial cookie

“ In essence, I venture, we are very much our own labrador ”

jar has now disappeared. I don’t know. I wish I knew.

hat I do know, however, is that while governments and politics generally always grab the headlines—causing ripples and waves as they do so—the core of day-to-day business life is remarkably consistent. Governments cannot fulfl their pledges and ambitions if there is no economy to pay for it. Our national DNA, so to speak, boils down to a key and fundamental drive to be industrious, with the production of and trade in goods and services being at the centre of our collective identity our collec-

tive DNA.

ithout these traits, governments literally would have nothing with which to service their public-serving ideas and aspirations. Recent reports commissioned to highlight the fnancial contributions made by shooting were extremely welltimed and, one hopes, will bode well in terms of uelling the fears of adverse interference in shooting generally.

Elsewhere, relatively little changes when it comes to the rule of law. aws, statutes, and the courts operate to regulate our business activities, and while these may be added to or amended that

re uires both time and political will. Nothing, I suspect, is going to happen soon. The promise of a lighter touch government would suggest that, as far as the precious fnance-generating rural economies are concerned, the dire need to fll the public purse must take precedence over more fscally neutral or even purely ideological possibilities—including ridding as many guns from our shores as possible. Indeed, the open recognition that our planning system needs reforming in order to encourage growth and ease certain distresses across the whole economy, is perhaps a testament to that. Each day, I come across a multitude of legal articles and commentaries carrying the tag line what does a labour government mean for X or and, to be frank, the majority of them are purely speculative.

Legal

Tort

Reality is truth. For now, across the legal landscape, the courts will continue to do their thing and in recent years the upper courts (the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court in particular) have been doing just that. The public sector aspiration for ethical conduct, is something which the courts, through its decisions and judgments, have been propounding more forcefully in the private sector for a good long while. Ethical conduct in the public sector, on the other hand, is being bandied around like a marvellous new idea.

So, for example, the process of encouraging disputes to settle by rendering mediation into a compulsory obligation continues.

More recently, however, the Court of Appeal has reiterated the law on inducement to breach a contract with some vigour and, I suspect, this may well have something to do with reinforcing the expectation that there must be ethical conduct in the business world and especially between competitors.

In brief, a third party which encourages another to breach its contract with someone else is potentially liable in damages under the tort (or civil wrong) of inducing a breach of contract. In such a competitive world, these shifty practices have been surprisingly common, and I have to say, based on recent experience, the gun trade has not been immune.

Inducing

The act of inducement does not require a monetary bribe—although this does sometimes feature. It is suffcient if the behaviour takes the form of mere persuasion, encouragement or assistance. The party who engages in such activities might fnd themselves on the wrong end of a damages claim, if it is found they had no lawful justifcation in attempting to undermine another’s commercial relationship, and knew their actions would have the effect of causing one party to breach its contract with another.

The Court of Appeal, in a case known as Northamber Plc -v- Genee World Limited, noted this actionable tort was akin to accessory liability for breach of contract. It is based on the principle that a person who procures another to commit a wrong, incurs a similar liability as the wrongdoer, but as an accessory. Importantly, the tort engages simply where the third party’s dealings are derived from a knowledge that what they are doing is inconsistent with another party’s contractual obligations.

Inducement to breach a contract is an easy legal trap for any ambitious person or business to fall into. It is sometimes invoked as a claim where the so-called

“victim” of the breach of contract is faced with an impecunious contracting party. On occasion, it emerges where products belonging to the victim and on which money is owing, are siphoned away to be traded elsewhere for pure proft. In those circumstances, it can often make better sense to go after the third party which encouraged or facilitated the breach of contract in the frst place.

So, whereas in public sector life unethical behaviour often does not result in direct fnancial retribution or punishment, in the private sector it can and does. And

that has been the case for many years. Coupled with this, it is perhaps not surprising, therefore, that the Institute of Directors has recently published a consultation regarding the creation of a directors’ code of conduct. The proposed code aims to develop directors conduct around six key principles: Leading by example, integrity, transparency, accountability, fairness, and responsible business. Look out for these because if the code comes to fruition, it will sit alongside the directors’ statutory duties under the Companies Act 2006. It will encourage all direc-

tors to “do the right thing.” and while it may not carry direct legal force, it will inevitably in uence how directors across the board will be seen, and how their future behaviours are expected to engender trust, not criticism. GTN GTN

Stuart Farr is a member of the GTA and a partner in Taylors solicitors. He welcomes contact from any trade organisation, especially those with a problem to resolve.

DELIVERING GERMAN EXCELLENCE TO THE UK AIRGUN MARKET

Mat Manning catches up with Hull Cartridge marketing executive Isabel Bontoft to find out more about the business’s special relationship with the Weihrauch airgun brand

MM Can you give us a brief history of Hull Cartridge and how it was it came to be the UK distributor for Weihrauch airguns?

IB The Bontoft family are proud owners of Hull Cartridge, a business that began loading high-quality shotgun ammunition in 1947, and 77 years on, is still doing exactly that. ‘Hull’, as it is known in the trade is the goto brand for performance, consistency, service and of course value for money.

The roots of our business go back to the 1920s when my great-grandfather, Sydney, was selling calcium carbide to estates and farms. As electricity became more commonplace in those outlying areas, there was a demise in the demand for calcium carbide. Sydney realised there was another product that was commonly used by his customer base in the form of shotgun cartridges. Cartridge production started in 1947.

All cartridges were loaded with paper cases, varnished and then visually inspected, before being packed by hand.

As for what lead us to Weiruach… Hugh Clark, a member of the sales team, was visiting a gun shop and observed the sale of an airgun. The sale was virtually instantaneous—there was no licensing required and the selling price was quickly agreed. The customer was beaming from ear to ear and the dealer was happy. Hugh asked “How many airguns have you sold today?” the reply came “Oh, three or four”. Hugh saw the opportunity and set about fnding a marketable product. That was what led us to working with Weihrauch.

MM Who are the main people on the airgun side of things at Hull Cartridge nowadays, and what are their roles within the organisation?

IB The backbone of the Weihrauch team has to be our enthusiastic sales duo of Chris and James, headed up by Sam Hawksworth. Numbercrunching sales and strategy analyst Tom Aitchison calculates our orders while I liaise with Weihrauch on how best to showcase their range of airguns to the UK market.

MM The relationship between Hull Cartridge and Weihrauch seems to be a very strong one. Why do you think there is such a powerful synergy between the two businesses?

IB We are really proud to have represented Weihrauch for over 45 years in the UK. It is a brand with a reputation and values the same as ours. Product quality and service are at the forefront of both companies’ ethos, making our working partnership ideal. This year Weihrauch Sport has celebrated its 125th anniversary and recently welcomed the

ffth generation, Felix eihrauch, into the business.

MM How were Weihrauch airguns received by the UK market when you frst started bringing them in IB At that time, the UK market was dominated by two big British brands: Webley and BSA. Hugh found eihrauch, a great air ri e, selling in the UK in relatively small numbers. It had everything the Brits didn’t have, German build quality, full power, pin-point accuracy, not forgetting that amazing Rekord trigger that we have all come to love. The scene was set. In 1977, Hull received delivery of their frst batch of break-barrelled Weihrauch air ries. In those early days, the H 35 Export was THE air ri e everyone aspired to own.

MM hich eihrauch air ri e do you think has made the biggest impres-

The Weirauch HW95S Adjustable

On Air 13

sion on the British airgun scene over the years and why?

IB It has to be the HW77/HW97 for underlever spring-powered guns. It has been copied but never bettered. Although late to the PCP market, the HW100 made a huge impression, adding amazing features such as a rapid-fre action built around a trouble-free, 14-shot, rotary mag and driven by a slick sidelever mechanism. Add the high effciency silencer, the simplicity of the Mk I thumbhole ambidextrous stock and the fail-safe, unique, single-pellet loading mechanism, and it’s easy to see why.

MM Is there still a strong demand for spring-powered air ri es, or do shooters show a strong preference for recoilless PCPs these days?

IB Everyone loves PCPs yet demand for springers remains extremely strong. I think the enduring popularity for springers has to be down to the convenience of having a selfcontained powerplant.

MM A lot of shooters show a remarkable degree of loyalty to the Weihrauch brand. What do you think it is that has made these guns so popular for so long?

IB It has to be the excellent build quality. There is no doubt as to the performance and accuracy of the product you are about to purchase. Whether it be the top of the range HW100 PCP or entry level HW99 break-barrel springer, the same renowned engineering standards shape every model.

MM You unveiled some amazing limited edition Weihrauch airguns at the British Shooting Show. These special guns have been produced to mark 125 years of the brand. Can you tell us about them and the response they have received?

IB The 1899 series comprises three of the most loved models within the Weihrauch range, all donning a never seen before striking grey and red laminate stock in homage to Weihrauch Sport’s branding. Each gun is individually numbered with limited edition anniversary memorabilia packaged within. The production runs comprise 300 HW100T of which Hull has imported 150, 600 HW97KT of which Hull has imported 300, and 900 HW50 of which Hull has imported 400.

A lot of people think that the H 35 was the frst model made

Isabel Bontoft of Hull Cartridge with one of the very special limited edition airguns made to mark Weihrauch’s 125th anniversary

“ In 1977, Hull received delivery of their first batch of break-barrelled air rifles ”

by eihrauch as it’s the frst that we imported. It was actually the HW50, and that is why this model was chosen for the 1899 series.

MM Weihrauch’s Rekord trigger unit has been around for decades and is still regarded as one of the best in the industry. Do you think we will see a technological leap in airgun design like that again, or is it more about

gradual refnement these days

IB Weihrauch are very traditional. However, they are very innovative. Over the last 47 years we have seen them make vast leaps ahead of the opposition—initially with the Rekord trigger, which was launched in the late 1950s. In the early 1980s, the HW77 was launched followed by the HW97.

When Weihrauch went spring-

free they initially used the gas-ram system in the HW90. Then there was an even bigger leap forward with the introduction of the HW100 in 2003. The HW110 was launched in 2016 followed by the HW44 in 2017. The progress has been continuous, and I don’t believe it will ever stop.

MM Can you give us a hint as to what new developments we might be seeing from Weihrauch over the coming months or years?

IB There is something coming and it will probably at the back end of this year. It is big, but my lips are sealed. GTN GTN

HORTON & SONS

Alex Sayer visits one of Birmingham’s bona fide landmarks, Horton & Sons, still situated in the increasingly gentrified gunmakers’ quarter of the city

NEED TO KNOW

n YEAR ESTABLISHED:

There are records dating back to 1751 when we took on an apprentice.

n ANNUAL TURNOVER:

N/A

n NUMBER OF STAFF: Six

Who’s the one member of staff you couldn’t live without and why?

Well that just depends, sometimes everything is sorted except the barrels and then we can’t manage without the barreller! When it comes to making bespoke guns we all have a vital role to play. I organise and oversee everything and am the frst port of call for any en uiries so in that sense the business couldn’t manage without me.

Tell us a little more about yourself, and why you’re running a gun shop— what your passions are I’m 11th generation in the gun trade and I just love reconditioning old guns. It’s such a great service to be able to offer people. My favourite thing is consulting with clients

What has been the most successful product (or area) for you in the past year would you say?

I would defnitely say our reconditioning service. This is offered predominately for side by sides. Essentially we restock and regrip to the client’s exact measurements. For them, it’s fantastic. If you actually stop and think about it, they can have a pair of guns that if bought new, would cost them say £100,000 for as little as £35,000 using our service. So that is uite a successful area not just for us but for them as well. e recondition all sorts of makes from Henry Atkin to Stephen Grant, oseph ang, Boss, Holland and Holland, ohn Dickson—you name it.

What’s your clientele like?

e have a lot of American clients, mainly American clients I would say. Although, having said that, we do get a fair few high-net-worth people from the . Bankers and businessmen, that sort of

Still a Horton at the helm: Steve is the latest in a long line

thing. I suppose a good way to describe one of our large client bases is a bunch of traditional game shooters who appreciate fne English guns that are best uality.

Who’s your best customer?

There’s a customer from the States, let’s call him Gary. Now he’s a very good customer of ours, he can appreciate the uality of our own Horton guns, in fact, he favours it. In the past four years he has

caught me on a good day, I gave him a below retail price and he nipped out to go on his phone. At the time I thought nothing of it. He then returned and told me he’d found the same gun, exact same specifcation ten pounds cheaper up in Newcastle. Before I had chance to speak he rushed off to get his cheaper gun. A ten hour round trip!

What do you anticipate will be the big-

“ Boasting an international patent, Hortonium has been created over 18 months ”

had six guns of ours made and delivered. All pairs, a pair of 28g, a pair of 20g and a pair of 12g. ou could almost call it a hat trick..

What’s your funniest or most memorable story about a customer?

I know everyone says this but there really have been so many. There is one story that sticks in my mind and I think of it fairly regularly. It involves a clay shooter and a Caesar Guerini. The gentleman came in and had a look at this off the shelf sporter. For some reason, he must have

gest trends for the next year?

Funny you should ask, I’ve been working on a lead replacement called Hortonium. Boasting an international patent, Hortonium has been created over a period of 18 months in conjunction with a metallurgist, Andrew Robb—who has 50 years experience and ballistics expert with extensive experience in the gun trade. Hortonium should be available during this coming game season although we do not produce ammunition ourselves, we simply supply manufacturers with Hortonium in its raw form.

hen ou order stoc , what s the frst thing you put down?

That’s a tricky one, you see I don’t use any distributors at all. In fact I don’t really buy any stock in. I buy gun stocks in though of course. At Horton’s it’s very much a case of whatever the client needs. I order things from all around the world. My stocks can come from California, Turkey or iege even Armenia. hen it comes to the metal side of things though, I defnitely prefer to keep that local. All my bits for components and metal parts come from the est Midlands.

Any other interesting facts about the business?

There’s lots of interesting things about this business. For example, we do bespoke fshing rods as well bespoke guns. Another interesting fact about the business is that we have held premises all around Birmingham’s Gun Quarter. From Bagot St to Weaman St to Princep St then Steelhouse Lane to Price St and now Loveday St.

Another interesting thing is about Martin Shaw from The Professionals, his grandfather was a barrel maker and once lived here at 46 Loveday Street with his six children.

What’s the best thing about working in a gun shop?

ike everyone says, each day is different. I am still seeing guns I have never seen before

Are people surprised when you tell them you own/run a gun shop? They normally are but remember I live in Birmingham so some people think I’m talking about an illegal den. A lot of people think it’s illegal. I’ve been called a murderer and all sorts. GTN

n ADDRESS: 45-46 Loveday Street, Birmingham B4 6NR

n PHONE: 0121 369 1855

n WEBSITE: www.hortonguns.com

n OPENING HOURS: By appointment only, any day of the week

ANTI-SOCIAL MEDIA

Diggory Hadoke wonders if the trade will be moving away from Facebook, and looks forward to Holts summer sale and the Game Fair

For how much longer will social media sites support the gun trade? It is a question troubling many of us and as I write Simon Reinhold of Holts appears to be signalling the possible withdrawal of Holts from the Facebook/Instagram world, based largely on repeated penalties for infringing the rules set by Meta for their ‘Community Standards’.

Basically, anything that the Meta algorithms sniff out that is suspected of promoting or selling guns invokes a page restriction and if suffcient infractions are recorded over a period of time, the offender’s page can be closed down.

Holts has featured heavily in Facebook campaigns, with Nick Holt showing off one of his latest inclusions and waxing lyrical about it for a couple of minutes. The, rather slicker, flms made by TGS with Holts also send a message

to the world that Holts is worthy of attention. It has undoubtedly been a positive part of their public awareness raising strategy in recent years.

However, in light of increasing Facebook restrictions, many are beginning to look for new strategies to get the message out to the public in a way that does not upset the sensibilities of the Facebook Police.

YouTube is increasingly useful, with more and more television packages giving access to the channel, people are now watching YouTube on the TV and searching for gun content is not a problem.

Posting regular ouTube flms is a good strategy and we can see them already from TGS, Holts and Gavin Gardiner; all promoting gun auctions.

YouTube lacks the immediacy of a Facebook campaign, as it does not au-

tomatically land on people’s feed while they are scrolling during the day but it does deliver detailed and up-to-date content, and it is free.

If change is the only constant, I suppose we must acknowledge the positive impact many of these social media sites had on our businesses and how places like Facebook took the content of British gun auctions to every corner of the world in less than a decade.

With increasingly squeamish content regulators, however, we may also have to acknowledge that the heyday of social media advertising for auctions and for the gun trade in general, may be over, at least on the platforms currently most prevalent. New paths will, doubtless, open up.

Sales

July is always a busy month, with a

Game Fair at Blenheim Palace to contemplate on the last weekend of the month and a Holts auction in Norfolk the week following. I plan to view before the Game Fair, so I can get my plans sorted and then head to Oxfordshire and focus on the task at hand, which is a talk at the GTA stand on Friday and Saturday. I very much hope to see the Game Fair on an upward trajectory but the sector does not feel especially buoyant at the moment and with incomes squeezed and discretionary spend reduced in most households, I’m not confdent. The glory days of the early 2000s seem long past. Gunmakers’ Row, once the backbone of the event, is much depleted this year, with no Rigby, no Purdey, no Westley Richards and no John Dickson. Just Holland & Holland and Boss & Co. remain to y the ag for the bigger players in the business today.

Auction View 17

Of the larger dealers in quality older guns, Giles Marriott and Ladd’s are attending, as is the Cheshire Gun Room, and Sportarm, though there is no sign of Graham MacKinlay this year, nor of any of the auctioneers.

Holts is the only large auction taking place this month. Harper Field has one with some air ri es and a few ri es and shotguns but Holts is the major event.

We can anticipate a lively sale with most of the guns advertised selling. The last two or three sales have easily topped £2 million each, with sealed bids adding signifcantly to the post-sale fgures. I have said before that auctioneers still make money in a falling market and they certainly are doing so at the moment.

Trend setters

Trends observed in recent months seem set to continue with obsolete calibre ri-

A 6.5x54mm Mannlicher Schoenauer bolt-magazine sporting rifle, Serial No. 3303, circa 1910, 26in. Nitro Barrel engraved ‘Daniel Fraser & Co. Gun & Rifle Manufacturers 4 Leith St. Terrace. Edinburgh’, estimate £500-£700 at Holts

es in demand, as is anything free from licensing. English game guns are still struggling to get out of the trough they have been in for at least fve years. It remains a buyer’s market.

The old model that I and many of my

busy with new-builds. That leaves us a bit in the lurch.

Put simply, the cost of restoring guns has increased and the ease with which it can be done has decreased to the point where, for many, it is no longer viable.

“ The younger generation either don’t want to bother with it or are too busy ”

contemporaries always favoured, which was to fnd ‘sleepers’ at auction and fx them up, is no longer as easy as it once was. The old gunmakers we relied on to get grubby guns back into good order are aging and many can no longer do the work. The younger generation either don’t want to bother with it or are too

That being the case, vintage magazine ri es are becoming more interesting. They are simpler and less delicate than fne shotguns and servicing and restoring them is more straightforward.

Things like Rigby Mausers, Mannlicher Schoenauers and Lee Speeds are increasingly attractive. Holts have several

Army & Navy Co-Operative Society Limd. A .303 (Brit.) ‘Lee-Speed’ bolt-magazine sporting rifle, Serial no. 40837, estimate £800-£1200 At Holts

of the former two ri es and one of the latter on the list in the July sale.

It being a buyer’s market is good news for those adding to their collections but not such good news for those liquidating theirs. As one dealer told me this week “A buyer’s marker is no good to a dealer if you don’t have onward buyers”, meaning that buying guns cheaply is a poor strategy if your purpose is to sell them on for a proft, when your customers are not spending money.

Experience suggests that whatever is bashing one market, another one usually picks up the slack and our auctioneers have a knack for getting their strategies right, pricing and describing the guns they get each sale in a way that makes them seem desirable and accessible to buyers all over the world.

However they manage it, not much gets left on the shelf. GTN GTN

TWO PLACES DIVIDED BY A COMMON LANGUAGE

As the US introduces ammo vending machines, Caroline Roddis unwittingly unlocks her inner faragista as she is forced to admit a grudging admiration for our ‘Nige’

A fascinating development across the pond: vending machines for ammunition. Installed in the states where you don’t need a permit to possess a frearm, these 2 tonne machines ha e a system much like an electronic passport gate insert our , then ha e the camera verify your face against the picture. Unlike an electronic passport gate, howe er, there s seemingl nothing to stop ou using a fa e , but that’s a conversation for another place and time. Presumably there is still the neverending annoyance of the machine stubbornly refusing to recognise ou, no matter whether ou eep our e es wide open, remove your hat or stand on one leg. What’s interesting from a media point of view is the relatively neutral reporting of the story in the available press online. By which I mean that the American media seems to have reported the topic, including referencing both its pros and cons, without h steria. Can ou imagine, b contrast, the tabloid reaction if these machines were introduced in the UK?

And yes, different place, different customs. But should the principles of reporting be that different? It’s not that I’m advocating for ammunition vending machines over here—in fact I’m struggling to think of a single reason they’d be either wise or necessary—but if there were a need I’d like to live in a country where the media coverage would at least attempt to be rational and calm. Reader reactions and social media comments, of course, are something else entirely: on these articles they range from pithy remarks on how these 24/7 machines are fnally serving the heretofore-uncateredto late-night mass murderer market, to suggesting that they are a secret government ploy to create a national register of gun owners.

Homegrown

Because I grew up in the UK I can’t

An ‘American Rounds’ vending machine in a US covenience store

imagine what it’s like to live in a country where there isn’t a national register of gun owners. (Freeing? Terrifying? Unremarkable?) But then I also never imagined that I’d write the sentence I’m about to here:

Nigel Farage is a role model.

That felt indescribably odd to write,

stumble across the annual newsreaders vs paparazzi clay shoot.

Having hit, according to the Daily Mail article entitled “Gunning for power: Trigger-happy Nigel Farage goes shooting on a country estate” a total of four clays (out of how many is apparently a state secret), Farage then turned to pose

“ Give Farage a gun and you can’t seem to make claims of elitism stick ”

but hear me out. I don’t mean in everything, or indeed in most things—although I suspect he does a creditable job at a yard of ale—but in terms of gun safety he’s actually spot on.

Just before the election Farage went to Catton Hall in Frodsham and, after a meeting with supporters, had a quick go at hitting some clay pigeons. If that sounds in any way spontaneous, however, it really wasn’t: a video on the Independent’s website shows Farage in front of a bank of press photographers, and I’m 99% sure he didn’t accidentally

for the press who’d been busy tanning themselves on the sidelines.

‘As long as there’s no cartridges in it, can you point the gun at us?’ shouts one photographer, speaking with breathtaking confdence given that the Alec Baldwin episode is still very much at the front of people’s minds.

Farage, who looks very pleased with himself and is dressed in jeans, shirt, tie and a shooting vest whose padding looks like it’s made from old leather sofas, replies “Never point a gun, even in jest.”

Nor is he just a poster boy for gun

safety. After he’d posed with a broken gun to everyone’s satisfaction, he then went on to do a little promo for the sport: “Shooting, provided it’s safe, under supervision, if you haven’t done it, go shoot some clays” he urges. (The speech does make more sense when you watch the video.)

Man of clay

I’m always whining in this column (and, to the boredom of my few remaining friends, in real life) that we never receive enough positive media coverage for shooting. So I’m not going to complain when it does present itself, even if I don’t think it’ll inspire anyone new to try shooting unless they’re Farage superfans. (Faragians? Faragers? Faragistas?) And it really isn’t the most compelling footage ever. I love shooting and it didn’t for a second make me think about moving towards my gun cabinet. But it’s still a relatively unremarkable, nonsensationalist video of a man with a gun, who’s being safe (or at least knows how politically damaging photographs of him pointing a gun at the camera would be), and extolling the virtues of a sport that most politicians are too afraid to be seen anywhere near. And it got featured all over the mainstream media.

It’s also an interesting piece of footage in that—at least judging by the Daily Mail coverage - give Farage a gun and you can’t seem to make claims of elitism stick. Put any of his Tory peers in the same position and you’d have skyscrapers of comments on the article calling them sick toffs.

And yes, that’s partly to do with the readership and the publication, but there’s still a distinct tonal shift.

I’m by no means saying that Farage should be the next face of the CPSA, especially if it transpires he only hit 4 out of 100 targets. But I do believe in giving credit where it’s due, which is as good an excuse as any to raise a pint this evening.

GTN

Strictly Shooting with Alex Sayer

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Alex

Sayer

presents her monthly round up from the the clay shooting world

DTL

Bywell, what a time it’s been here, what with the ‘Worlds’. Let’s have a huge shout out to the England team for achieving a record 8704/9000 in the Home International under their excellent manager David Amos. There are that many cups and teams and categories that it inspires almost every competitor to become a winner of some kind. There is however only one champ and the 15th World DTL was won this year by a 17year old from New Zealand; James Sullivan (pictured) was crowned the World winner with a score of 889/900+75, naturally he took the Junior’s title too.

The next ICTSF DTL Championship will be hosted by New Zealand from 17-19 of March 2026, and we will hopefully see James there defending his title.

I was pleased to see just how high the disabled scores were with Mark Delf coming frst in disabled standing with 868/900 and Lorrie Greening hitting 801/900 for sitting.

England came frst in the Super- eterans team, ales came frst in the eterans, England came second in the Junior’s, Northern Ireland came frst in the ladies and the Open team. What a result!

Shooting numbers

I was surprised to see that according to BASC’s alue of shooting report366,000 people in the UK shoot clays— that’s 66% of shooters. Game shooting has 293,000 participants apparently which is 53% of the number overall. On a similar note the report says there are 95,000 wildfowlers but only 120,000 deer stalkers. hich again is a diffcult margin to believe, there must be more stalkers than wildfowlers I would have thought. Just under half of shooters do some form of pest control.

You would have thought that some smart target setter would have come up with a pigeon target.

Orston

Dan, Emily and the little ’un have fnally sold Charlie Denoon’s old ground. Offcially having gone under the name Prescott Shooting Ltd, Orston was one heck of an offering size-wise coming in at 53 acres. The ground has been sold to NSAF which is better known to me and you as Heckler and Koch. Known for its big MOD and police contracts, I would imagine H&K is interested in that full-bore, 24-lane ri e range that Dan and Emily had the sense to get planning permission for. Let’s hope the clay shooting won’t suffer in the longer term. Obviously Nottingham isn’t too much of a stretch for those needing to scratch their clay itch, but there’s no shop there (to speak of) and Orston had some pretty

Maxogun

Bursting onto the scene by sponsoring the National Shooting Show and a beer pump, Maxogun are claiming to be eBay for Fieldsports. Many people have tried to take this crown but the market presence of GunTrader is surely unbeatable? Maxogun has an edge though due to the release of its app, notably available on the Apple store. Maxogun sees this as a huge turning point for Apple in the support of gun sales—it may be right.

Small bore

I’m really looking forward to the UK Festival of Small-bores which will be a great place to celebrate the smaller calibres which appeal to children and seasoned shots alike. Steve Lovatt of The Clay Shooting Company will be setting ‘traditional’ targets for this event to be held at Garlands on August 17. There are cash prizes and sponsorship from MJ Sporting and Giles Marriot who is offering a free gun service to anyone who comes frst in the .410 hammer category. There are side by side and hammer cat-

cool ideas including a ‘we’ll pay for your license’ campaign. There seven currently unused DTL layouts and four currently unused skeet layouts plus a 50m, 8-lane, all-weather air ri e range. I had the pleasure of sitting next to Paul, Heckler and Koch’s CEO, at the Gun Trade and Allied Services dinner last year. Him on one side and Terry Humber—highly affordable shooting coach—on the other.

The Game Fair

Really looking forward to the CPSA Champion of Champions at the Game Fair this year. If you are taking or meeting any non shooters there, be sure to get them onto the ‘have-a-go’ stands. This is a great introduction and just what the sport needs to keep going. Equally if you are a good shot, shoot the competitions—it’s what they are there for and what better memory to make than shooting at the Game Fair?

egories for all bores from .410 to 28 to 20 and even 16.

GAME FAIRS PAST

The industry insider Karl Waktare invites you to join him for a leisurely stroll down memory lane to those Game Fairs past that loom large in his memory

CAN you recall being around drunk adults when you were a child? Here are these grown-ups who normally behave in a certain way and are now being weird. They become a lot louder and laugh at things that are not actually that funny. I must have been under 1 when went to m frst ame air as part of unmar s attendance. reall lo ed it, all the crisps and f drin s that could help m self to. etting m frst catapult, pla ing with air rifes and fring a shotgun for the frst time. Together with brothers Johan and Oskar we looked after a small corner of the stand where we sold sewon badges, stickers and T-shirts. Can you believe we actually used to make people buy catalogues?

As the day wore on, I remember getting fed up and wanting to go back to

“ The standout venue was always Blenheim. It scores on all the key criteria ”

the hotel for food. Trying to separate a tanked-up adult from their next drink is hard work. Sometimes an equally sloshed female member of staff would look at you and give it loads of ‘you poor soul, he wants his dinner’ then smother you with an unwanted and overly affectionate hug. Ten years older and I might have been more appreciative.

Spotted

I had a period away from the Game Fair in my late teens and early twenties and

by the time I came back to the business in the mid 90s there was a bit of a boycott going on. The Country Landowners Association (CLA) were perceived as not doing enough for the trade and the Midland Game Fair (MGF) had flled the void. As far as I recall the situation was, the Gun Trade Association/SST would ensure that the MGF was the best attended ‘Gunmakers’ Row’ and in return the MGF would make a donation back to the GTA. So, GMK would spend lots of money attending the MGF in order that

the GTA would get a donation. To be fair, at its peak, the MGF was a really good event and well run.

Shipshape

At some point in the 90s Andrew Hough was appointed to run the Game Fair, a boat show veteran. He very quickly sought to win back the gun traders and I recall him coming to see me. He tempted us, Browning, RUAG/Perazzi back by offering us free ‘exhibition trailer’ space at one end of Gunmakers’ Row. This carried on for a year or two until ‘rumour has it’ my father came along, got on the sauce, and went around the fair bragging about the fact that we were there for nothing. By this stage, the Game Fair was well and truly thriving and we wanted a bigger space anyway... The CLA started rotating the Game

The Game Fair at Blenheim in 2008

Industry Insider 21

Fair around Harwood House, Belvoir Castle, Broadlands and Blenheim. The standout venue was always Blenheim. Quite simply, it scores on all the key criteria. It’s in a wealthy part of the country, has good proximity to London and the Southeast, is not too bad for the Southwest and also accessible to the Midlands. It is not unique in having a great setting and stately home but there is arguably more history with Blenheim than the other venues. I have memories from the mid 2000s of being at Blenheim and the early arrivers outside our stand, streaming in like a broken dam when we took the covers off the front. These were great times for the trade also, the economy was good, shooting was becoming more popular and ex-pistol shooters were spending their compensation money on other forms of shooting. Is it going too far to say that Blenheim is the Glastonbury of Game Fair venues?

Festival

I recall going to the frst Countryside ive which replaced the Game Fair at Blenheim. It was weird and crap at the same time; the same venue but it felt completely different. I remember watching a live demo of a spaniel rooting through a load

Bjorn Waktare together with Caesare Giovanelli the founder of the world renowned engraving studio and Patrick Keen who also founded Gunmark with my father

of cardboard boxes to fnd a drug-scented parcel. I was trying to get the connection with the countryside, I suppose it was the spaniel and nothing else. Visitors were dressed in technical walking gear and sandals. People brought their own lunch and kids were queuing for miles to get on the fairground attractions.

So, Blenheim Place 26-28 July, bring it on. I understand advanced ticket sales and exhibition space have sold incredibly well. It’s a great opportunity to demonstrate to the new government that we are a substantial force. They need to work with us and not give in to the element of the Labour party that is ideologically

motivated. Whenever we had foreign suppliers visit us for the Game Fairs they were always blown away by the scale of it, and were extremely envious. OK, so we know the Game Fair is not just shooting but honestly who cares. Our Game Fair is the biggest in the World, rejoice.