Enquire
I recall clearly a visit home from the oil field when I went to my fathers house and saw the gun delivered for the first time completed by Alan and Paul, I remember the pride and excitement of all parties. The work was truly amazing then and remains truly amazing to this day. I can quite understand the designs perhaps not being to everybody's taste, but the quality of the work is undeniable.
Incorporated into the gun there is every kind of technique an engraver can draw upon, flush gold work, sculpted gold, carved steel, sculpted silver, fine engraving, inlaid gemstones, carved woodwork, the list seems endless. This work took Alan and Paul a full year, they groan now even thinking about the effort! Alan was full time and I think Paul part time but not sure how part time, he was teaching also at this time. This was the single largest commission the brothers have ever undertaken and I have always thought, wished perhaps, they would do another work of the same scale at least, preferably more!
After the euphoria of having the gun delivered came the need to sell it and I remember this not going quite to plan. The Middle Eastern market had been targeted as the place to sell it and the London firm of Asprey was asked to assist, but this didn't work out. I am sure at this point my father was in a near state of panic, the gun had cost an enormous amount of money (at the time) for a single gun, especially by this company, and it was not something that could remain unsold for long. Quite by chance an Englishman came to the factory, saw the gun, and purchased it immediately. It then remained essentially unseen ( as he had requested no photographs so only those few taken by the Browns existed) and untouched until the gentleman's death, at which point we were able to purchase the gun back from the family. The gun is here now and we show it to very, very, few people, Vic Venters being the last and which brought the gun back to my mind for this post!
An Original Boutet Flintlock Rifle at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
paul j. antonino on March 26, 2014 at 1:08 am
this gun is incredible .....paul
khalil al thani on March 26, 2014 at 9:32 pm
unbelieveable gun,but not my cup of tea,
you should try the saudi market they die for a gun of this kind
can i ask the price of this gun in todays markey?
Simon Clode on March 26, 2014 at 11:50 pm
Thank you Paul and Khalil for your comments. I am not sure what it is worth now only that I paid double what it was originally sold for to get it back!
jeremy knight on May 6, 2014 at 11:12 pm
hello
would you be interested in selling this gun?
best regards
Jeremy
Viera Hromadova on March 20, 2018 at 8:04 am
Hello,
I don't think I have ever seen a more beautiful gun than this one. The amount of skill and craft the Brown brothers demonstrated here is incredible. You are certainly a proud owner of a real treasure :-).
I was fortunate enough to work for Mr. Paul Brown for many years and we often discussed gun engraving and jewellery making. I have a pair of wedding rings made by him. Not quite the same as your gun but the same pride and excitement :-).
Best regards
Viera