It may have come from an acquaintance or someone you have done business with, but not someone you ever expected might be so generous as to offer you a peg on a day that is beyond your own pocket by some margin: a rare treat indeed.
In life, no silver lining comes without its little dark cloud and in this instance, it is how to graciously accept the offer and then arrive, suitably armed with a gift of thanks, as befits the occasion. The trouble with the kind of people who lavish such shooting days on the likes of us is that they have the means to own anything they want. In short, if they like something, they probably already have it.
A suitable gift does not have to be hugely expensive but it should be memorable. In more usual circumstances, one might hand over a bottle of whisky a little more extravagant than the type you know your host would normally buy for himself. If that won’t do, then Westley Richards can suggest some useful gifts that are a little more beautiful and a degree more individual than the items most people own.
If your host is an overseas visitor, bear in mind, also, that he may appreciate a gift that is easy to pack and transport, as he will likely already have a significant amount of baggage with him.
Top of the packable list we have Westley Richards Cuff-links in olive or sporting orange, which make a stylish addition to any formal day or evening outfit. The fashionable dark orange logo adds a dusting of drama to the classic sheen of silver cufflinks, while the olive version provides more understated elegance.
If your host enjoys a tipple on the hill, rather than provide him with the contents, why not give him something lasting that he will remember you by? A Westley Richards Hip Flask in mid tan, available in 2.5oz and 5.5oz sizes is perfect. The fine, British-made, pewter flask is protected by a hand-stitched, bark-tanned, leather cover, made in our own workshops. It is a gift that will last a lifetime and bring memories of the giver every time it is lifted to the lips.
The Westley Richards Leather Notebook in dark tan is a beautiful, hand-crafted journal made in Florence from Italian woven paper, with marbled page edges, wrapped in soft leather with a wrap-around strap. It makes a striking and memorable gift. It is a statement piece in the form of an ordinary object, making it all the more notable and special.
Every shooting man needs a Shotgun Certificate and even visitors need to hold a Visitors’ Shotgun Permit while shooting in Britain. Add a little style to the experience with a Westley Richards Certificate Wallet in exotic buffalo hide, or make it even more outstanding by choosing ostrich.
For a really useful and long-lived gift that will see years of use in the field, consider the Westley Richards Tool Roll, available in a variety of fabrics, with accessories for cleaning shotguns and rifles. Priced from £495, the British Millerain Camo version is both stylish, unusual, and ideal for the deer stalker, as well as the bird shooter.
The golden rule for good conduct on an invitation is to tip well. You have been gifted this wonderful day and all its trappings for nothing. Show your appreciation by tipping your loader, the staff, and the game-keeper well. My guide would be to add thirty percent to your usual tip and then double it. The shooting fraternity in the UK is a small one and word gets around.
Now, pack your kit, wrap your gift, stuff a bundle of notes into your breast pocket, and make ready!
Westley Richards has been outfitting its clients with timeless fine leather goods for as long as it has been building custom rifles and bespoke guns for them. Whether it be an heirloom quality gun slip to carry your droplock shotgun to the peg or an exhibition-grade gun case to store your prized double barrel rifle, Westley Richards sporting leather goods has you covered. Made in our leather factory in Birmingham side by side with the gunmaking, the company offers a range of leather hunting and shooting accessories, including ammo wallets, gun slips, rifle slings, cartridge bags, Sam Brown belt, cartridge belts, gun cleaning kits, shooting gloves and hip flasks. The ideal partner for our high quality safari wear and country clothing.
