Very rarely do we encounter a dangerous game double rifle made by David McKay Brown, and this example, chambered in .577 Nitro Express and proofed in London in 1999, is no exception. Amazingly, this gun is No. 1 in a matched pair that was orphaned from its sibling at some point, and I cannot imagine that David made more than one set of .577 double rifles over the years.
This gun was constructed in the John Dickson & Son round-action design of 1820 and has all the beautiful styling attributes of a traditional Scottish round-action gun—built on a massive frame scaled to withstand the .577 cartridge. The cocking mechanism, ejector layout, mainspring-driven assisted opener, double-bite lockup, rib extension, and third fastener are also of the Dickson design. Additional features include a top tang that extends into the stock’s comb and a bolted safety.
The chopper-lump barrels are 25 inches in length, and there is a quarter rib with a fixed open sight regulated for the distance at which one would feel comfortable shooting an elephant. As with any proper dangerous game double rifle, there are two triggers for system redundancy and automatic ejectors, which are a nice feature but not truly required for the work one would be doing with this gun.
Also featured is a metal-capped trapdoor pistol-grip stock crafted from highly marbled Turkish Circassian walnut, a gold oval, sling mounts, a splinter forend, a tastefully executed cheekpiece, and heel-and-toe plates that will do the shoulder no favors when the trigger is pulled. This double rifle weighs in at 13 pounds, 14 ounces. While the weight works in your favor in terms of recoil, it would clearly be impractical for stalking. Then again, if you are a man of means who can afford this gun, you will certainly have two people to carry it for you.
Visually, this gun will stop you in your tracks, featuring a bull elephant game scene engraved in the bullino style, surrounded by full-coverage acanthus leaf scroll over a coined finish. The engraving was executed by the master engravers at Creative Art. Additionally, the fences and top lever display beautiful, deep chiseled engraving, and where the water table meets the barrel flats, you will notice an unusual engraving pattern that I find particularly appealing.
David McKay Brown’s artistry on this gun represents the very best of the gunmaker’s craft. While I certainly enjoy sub-gauge field guns made by the likes of F.lli Rizzini, Boss & Co., Holland & Holland, and Purdey, this rifle truly fascinates me because it stands at the highest level of the gunmaker’s art.
Now the question is: would I ever shoot it?
