The more the merrier

The rise of driven game shooting in the 19th century led to a rise in orders for pairs (and trios) of guns. These identical siblings still hold a magical allure today

-  DONALD DALLAS

PAIRS OF shotguns have a certain kudos. They speak of glamorous shoots from another era with armies of beaters, loaders, keepers and skies darkened with beating wings. And they look resplendent, too, lying in their double cases, side by side, with their accessories. And as for that smell when you open the case…

There are two types to look for when it comes to pairs of guns. A matched pair is two guns that have been ordered at the same time, made at the same time and are identical (matched) in every respect. Each gun has the same figured wood, engraving, measurements and so on. They will be consecutively numbered and are usually marked with a gold inlaid number ‘1’ or ‘2’. The second type of pair is called a composite, which refers to a pair of guns ordered at different times but by the same owner. Consequently, they will have non-consecutive numbers and sometimes the stock figuring will be slightly different as the timber has come from different trees. A common scenario with best guns was for a single gun to be given as a 21st birthday present to a son (or daughter) and a few years later, when they gained experience, another would be ordered to match the first.

Before the 1840s pairs of guns did not exist. In that decade, their numbers increased dramatically so that by the third quarter of the 19th century, pairs accounted for most sporting gun orders from all the top makers. There were three reasons why pairs began to be built in the 1840s: the percussion system, railways and the introduction of driven game shooting.