Magnificent John Dickson & Son 8 Bore Percussion Gun

The name Charles Gordon (1853-1918) will be very familiar to those of you with a genuine passion for vintage sporting arms of the hammer gun variety. Born in Peebles, Scotland, he was the product of a privileged if somewhat sad upbringing. By the age of 14 his mother and both adoptive parents had died leaving him with a large fortune and considerable property in Edinburgh. His great passions had always been shooting and fishing, but with the inheritance of such great wealth he decided to indulge himself in collecting, amongst other things new pistols, guns and rifles from various noted gun and rifle makers. His favourite would be John Dickson & Son of Edinburgh where from 1868 when he placed his first new order to 1906 when he was practically bankrupt and made his last purchase he had acquired no less than 229 pistols, guns and rifles!

By Trigger

What really stood this eccentric, often mad Scottish gentleman out from all the rest was his insatiable appetite for ordering new weapons built on old designs, over 50% of the pistols, guns and rifles being muzzleloaders at a time when the hammerless breech loader was unquestionably at the fore.

To pick any one of the magnificent guns that he had built is always going to be tricky, but illustrated here is one of the five 8 bore double percussion shotguns that he had built. This particular example was ordered on 25th October 1883 and is still in unfired condition complete in its case with all the accessories. The quality of work is simply outstanding and pays tribute to the skill of the gunmakers at the time. You need to put in perspective that in 1875 Westley Richards had patented the first hammerless breechloading gun, yet here 8 years later John Dicksons were building a hammer percussion 8 bore with detachable hammer noses! The proportions of this gun are wonderful and even from a modern gunmaking point of view the whole cased package is inspiring.

Charles Gordon would end his days in lonely seclusion, mentally unsound in 1918. Whilst his extravagant spending and at times illogical purchasing almost bankrupted the man, he left one of the greatest legacies in fine gunmaking that has ever been seen. The guns he commissioned still bring huge enjoyment to a diverse group of collectors today and the fact that so many are in pristine unfired condition only adds to the desire to own one.

For the complete history of John Dickson & Son see Donald Dallas book 'John Dickson & Son - The Round Action Gunmaker'

By Trigger

2 Comments

Neill on April 19, 2017 at 10:33 am

The story of Charles Gordon is indeed unusual, I suppose he fits the bill for a great British eccentric. This 8 bore is absolutely beautiful. It seems a shame though that it has not been used, whilst out is great see it "as new" it is a gun and not an ornament. I always think the same if I see collectible toys being sold in mint condition, or fine musical instruments behind glass, it means no pleasure has been taken in the item's use.

Thanks for letting us see it.

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Peter Buckley. on April 20, 2017 at 3:21 am

Dear Trigger

Outstanding!! Every aspect of this gun from case colour to detachable hammer noses, that so typical Scottish goatskin lined case complete with all accessories, and to think there are another 228 "Dickson & Son" guns of the same quality out there, Outstanding!!

Wouldn't we all loved to have been at Dowell's salesroom in Edinburgh on the day when they sold the whole collection for practically nothing!
I wonder what Charles Gordon would have thought about that?

Great post Trigger thank you.

Kind regards. Pete.

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