The Old Swede: Gentleman in the Field
A Sporting Life in Detail:: Edwardian Pageantry, Selous Boots, and the Safari that Shaped a Legacy.
A Historical Anecdote
The Duke’s Birds at Rievaulx
In Edwardian Yorkshire, the 6th Duke of Devonshire hosted one of the grandest shoots ever staged at Rievaulx. Guns in morning dress lined the pegs, and loaders readied for relentless action as birds came fast from the wooded ridge.
Lord Ripon, famed for his near-mythic tally of over half a million birds, dropped 28 pheasants in under two minutes using a pair of Purdeys. But the true spectacle was the tone: silver dishes at elevenses, beaters in livery, and women in silk observing from canvas shelters.
Such days weren’t just about sport — they were theatre. The Duke’s shoot became legend not only for volume but for its seamless blend of privilege, pageantry, and precision. The record books still whisper of it.
Suggested Read: “Olly” by Rupert Godfrey
Manners Maketh Man
Tipping the British Way
Tipping in the British field is a study in understatement. A sealed envelope, handed with a quiet “thank you,” speaks volumes. For a formal driven day: loaders and pickers-up typically receive £60–£100, beaters £30–£50. Never flash cash — instead, follow local custom or ask your host for guidance.
For a multi-day stalking expedition or a demanding grouse moor, consider a slightly higher gesture, especially if your man shoulders rifles or spots birds beyond the call of duty.
Thoughtful additions — a handwritten card, a fine pocketknife, or a leather wallet — add grace. British keepers respect gratitude, not grandstanding. And remember, the best tip is a sincere compliment delivered in front of the headkeeper.
Suggested Read: BASC Guide to Shooting Game - Michael Yardley
Kit Review
The Courtney Selous Boot
Born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, the Courtney Selous Boot is more than footwear — it’s legacy stitched in kudu hide. Originally crafted for game rangers, scouts, and professional hunters, each pair is handmade with veld-reliable construction and a timeless silhouette.
Named after famed explorer Frederick Courteney Selous, the boot balances durability and lightness. It holds firm in the bush yet breathes in heat, its crepe sole gripping sand, mud, and stone with equal grace.
Break-in is swift. Comfort, eternal. Your pair becomes uniquely yours — dusted with safari dust or upland clay, creased at the instep like a well-read field journal.
These boots aren’t just worn; they’re earned.
Suggested Read: Wanderings of an Elephant Hunter – Bell
Spirit of the Week
GlenDronach 21-Year Parliament
A Highland whisky rich in character and tradition, GlenDronach Parliament 21 is matured in Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks — its profile deep with dates, leather, and dark chocolate. The name “Parliament” nods to the rook colonies nesting near the distillery for over two centuries.
On the nose: stewed plum and toasted walnut. The finish lingers like a fireside conversation. Best served in a tulip glass with a single drop of water.
It’s a dram for long dinners, deep leather chairs, and game tales spun just after dusk.
Order GlenDronach Parliament
Suggested Read: Whiskypedia: A Compendium of Scotch Whisky
Pub Spotlight
The Wheatsheaf Inn, Northleach
Set in the Cotswold hills, the Wheatsheaf Inn combines rustic tradition with refined comfort. Built in 1661, its low-slung beams and worn flagstone floors speak of centuries of post-shoot pints.
The bar pours local ales like Donnington BB; the kitchen serves wild duck confit, aged beef, and Yorkshire game pie. Dogs nap under tables while muddy wellies line the entry. The clientele is a blend of old farmers, city guns, and traveling writers.
Stay upstairs in rooms dressed in antlers and wool throws. And after a day on Cold Aston Estate or Hatherop, the glow from the pub’s hearth will feel like home.
Book a room now
Safari Profile
Robert Ruark’s Tanganyika
Robert Ruark’s first safari, led by Harry Selby, remains one of the most influential ever undertaken. His Rigby .470 Nitro Express double rifle — elegant, brutal, dependable — was the centerpiece of a journey through lion country and elephant trails.
In Horn of the Hunter, Ruark writes not just of hunting, but of manhood, fear, and awe. “Africa,” he declared, “is where you go to be reminded how small you are.”
That .470 wasn't just a tool — it was his armor. Whether facing down a wounded bull or sipping sundowners in the bush, Ruark’s rifle and words fused into a timeless sporting ethos.
Suggested Read: Horn of the Hunter – Robert Ruark
Featured Gun
Ruark’s Safari Double
Robert Ruark’s Rigby .470 NE double rifle, built for Africa’s most dangerous game, became iconic through Horn of the Hunter. Finished in London and chambered in the hard-hitting .470, the rifle featured express sights, an ebony forend tip, and traditional scroll engraving.
What made it legendary was not opulence, but trust. Ruark never forgot the feel of its recoil, nor the lives it preserved. His writing forever linked this rifle to courage, ethics, and reverence for wild Africa.
Today, Rigby’s Big Game line continues the tradition for sportsmen who still believe the old way is best.
Shop: Rigby Big Game Rifles
Quote from the GunPlow Library
“A man’s rifle is the extension of himself, it reflects his patience, his courage, his training, and his fears.”
— Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter
Order Horn of the Hunter Here
GunPlow Classic Library: Coming Soon
Here are this week’s suggested reads from the GunPlow Team:
Horn of the Hunter by Robert Ruark
The Africa House by Christina Lamb
Wanderings of an Elephant Hunter by W.D.M. Bell
Shooting Etiquette by Michael Yardley
A Glorious Way to Die by Alan Moorehead
