Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/769056
12 • S P O R T I N G C L A S S I C S The rifle was stocked in Circassian walnut by Ernst Kerner with checkering by Monty Kennedy. The mount was designed by Robert Heym—and by the innovative Bob Lee. In 1955, en route to his first African safari, Bob Lee stopped in London and met with Harry Lawrence, managing director of James Purdey & Sons, Ltd. Bob ordered a .500/465 Nitro Express double rifle, Serial No. 26550, but instead of having it engraved in-house, he had it sent "in the white" to Fugger care of Griffin & Howe in New York. On the same trip he purchased a Holland & Holland .375 H&H Magnum double rifle, Serial No. 35288, which he also sent "in the white" to Fugger for engraving. This was no small feat. Prior to this time no London-made gun had ever been sent overseas for engraving, and yet upon the return of the Purdey to England, it created a great deal of excitement, for Bob had unwittingly—and yet single-handedly—helped promote a new way of looking at firearms engraving in England while advancing the momentum toward fine engraving worldwide. Harry Lawrence praised the Purdey double as the most magnificent rifle of our time. This single gun would be the catalyst for many young engravers at the time, including Ken C. Hunt, now recognized as "The Dean of English gun engravers." He studied and learned from talents the likes of Fugger. To quote Nigel Beaumont, former chairman of James Purdey & Sons, Ltd.: "Bob came along at a time when a new age was beckoning, and by his inquisitiveness, knowledge, and interest, played a part in shaping contemporary gunmaking. He has pursued the art of engraving to its extreme by his recognition and patronage of the best engravers. His pursuit for the best engraving ever done and 'the perfect gun' has helped lift the standards of the makers of fine guns worldwide, and we are indebted to him for making us more aware and adaptable in pursuing our quest for those higher standards. "We are presently in the greatest 'golden age' of them all, and it Bob Lee and a new friend share a laugh during his1995 sheep hunt in western Mongolia. This 'N That (continued) DOUBLE GUNS OF NASHVILLE TO cARRy FINE FIREARMS Double Guns of Nashville, which held its grand opening on November 19, will carry a variety of premium firearms including Krieghoff, Blaser, Rigby, Sauer, Mauser, Grulla, Cosmi, HEKA di Giulio Bernardelli, L'Atelier Verney-Carron, and Barret Soverign. Apparel and gear is available for both men and women from featured brands including Barbour, Boyt, Americase, Blaser, Briley, Artipel, Negrini, and Bob Allen. Double Guns of Nashville is a collaboration between longtime Nashville friends Barry Rich and Terry Hetrick. Rich has an extensive history in banking with a lifelong passion for fine guns and clay shooting. Hetrick has been a certified shooting instructor since 1993 and boasts a client list ranging from first-time shooters to the highest level of professional competitive shooters. Hetrick also participates in the Scholastic Clay Target Program, aimed at ushering in the next generation of competitive shooters. For more information, call (615) 651-4690 or visit www.DoubleGunsofNashville.com. n is in no small measure that we see it in the influence of Bob Lee." It was Bob's opinion that the best highly finished sporting arms of the last five centuries represent one of the highest forms and most challenging mediums of all artistic endeavors. The design of the mechanical components through the ages required the collaboration of the most talented innovators—mechanical geniuses—who were in turn joined by tradesmen sculptors in steel and exotic woods, and such masterpieces were brought to completion with further assistance by the finest goldsmiths, silversmiths, engravers, and carvers in steel and precious metals. The proof is in brilliant holdings of major private and museum collections—and in examples like those from the Robert M. Lee Collection beautifully showcased on page 134. n "When a man wants to murder a tiger he calls it sport; when a tiger wants to murder him he calls it ferocity." – George Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman