G. R. Bourne guns and tackle.

[Greenmist]

Another one was Hopes in Carlisle, the front was run as a carpet shop, the back was a gun room, the racks were 2-3 deep with all manner of guns, I was bought and still have my first shotgun from there, 40 years ago and still going strong

 

[Smellydog]

Geoff Bourne is long retired and living happily in France

Steve Jones passed away around six years ago.I knew Steve and Joan for a long time and I was responsible for winding down his shop which was heart breaking Joan passed away a couple of years ago

Trent Firearms was a Gold Mine for reloaders and anyone needing an obsolete gun part.A place like which we'll probably never see again

Sorry to hear of Joan's passing.

They were joined at the hip.

I knew a young chap was a good friend of theirs. He was asked to help.
If that is you, greetings.

Steve had a good friend , Stuart. I met Stuart as a very young man before I knew Steve. I often wonder about him also.

 

[Smellydog]

Are they Hull Cartridge shells? They ran an offer sometime in the early 80s (ish) where you could your own design printed onto their cartridges (for trade customers). My dad had his own design done on Three Crowns and sold them through his shop for many years. I’ve still a box or two knocking around somewhere.

Yes I believe so.. I'd of sworn they were slightly different than Hull offerings but I could be completely wrong on that.

 

[Wsm]

Stuart is still going strong

 

[bluesako]

another great gun shop which sadly isnt with us anymore, is bangor firearms on the main st run by mike and josh, it was a awsome they had everything you wanted and more, i think shops like these are dying out, i miss them both bs.

 

[Smellydog]

another great gun shop which sadly isnt with us anymore, is bangor firearms on the main st run by mike and josh, it was a awsome they had everything you wanted and more, i think shops like these are dying out, i miss them both bs.

Associated with valley arms Ruthin ?

 

[reiver]

Stan hope i

Another one was Hopes in Carlisle, the front was run as a carpet shop, the back was a gun room, the racks were 2-3 deep with all manner of guns, I was bought and still have my first shotgun from there, 40 years ago and still going strong

remember him well the trouble with stan was he threw pistol shooters under the bus so lost a lot of his trade !!. There was also Raine’s and Machardys and also Adrian Brown who had to pack in with dementia RIP . Bill Warwick s as well
All in Carlisle

 

[jon2]

I do.

I wonder how many we can add to the list of those no longer around in north Staffordshire?

Tom Cooper in Hanley.
Practical Weaponry, Bucknall New Road
I think it was Riley’s at Halmer End
There used to be a small shop specialising in muzzle loading also not too far from Audley

Just over the county border there was Jenks (latterly owned Robert Worthington) in Nantwich.
Hamer Grocott in Alsager

Yes! I was a Saturday boy at Rob Worthingtons. My duties included oil and wipe down of all the guns on the rack and then moving onto loading .45 ACP ammo on a RCBS Green machine in the afternoon. I loved it in there because apart from all the shotguns and rifles, he specialised in handguns with a sprinkling of semi auto sub machine guns such as UZI’s, Stens and the odd LDP from Rhodesia days. In fact he had alsorts of interesting stuff in there over the couple of years I was there.

I also remember Practical Weaponry in Hanley (which specialised in assault rifles) and the muzzle loading specialist at Audley.

Superb times.

 

[Greenmist]

Stan hope i

remember him well the trouble with stan was he threw pistol shooters under the bus so lost a lot of his trade !!. There was also Raine’s and Machardys and also Adrian Brown who had to pack in with dementia RIP . Bill Warwick s as well
All in Carlisle

I remember MacHardys, also there was a very small shop out of the town centre (Botchergate?) opposite a small industial park, he had some lovely English guns in, can I ask how Stan Hope threw pistol shooters under the bus please?

 

[reiver]

I remember MacHardys, also there was a very small shop out of the town centre (Botchergate?) opposite a small industial park, he had some lovely English guns in, can I ask how Stan Hope threw pistol shooters under the bus please?

Think you mean Ferguson guns shop on London road . He retired to go and restore old cars up last I heard. He lived near Raughton head I think ? I had forgotten about him .
Stan hope was interviewed by the Cumberland news? after Dumblaine and said as far as he was concerned no one needed to have handguns at all only shotguns and .22 rifles ! This from a man who sold guns to people ? . He was a dubious character from what I was told about some of his business practices as well .
He also used to play the organ at Carlisle cathedral .there were rumours about that as well but I don’t think anything came out about it ? Not a well liked man in the city by the people who knew him . Hopefully he went straight to hell ..
on a lighter note we still have Geoff Wilson’s Mark Gardner and as of last year a new shop Eden Shooting supplies in the area .