The Old Swede: September 1, 2025
The Guns and The Ground: History, methods, and the table — all bound by tradition.
Featured Gunmaker
Griffin & Howe — Past and Present
Founded in 1923 by Seymour Griffin and James V. Howe in New York, Griffin & Howe quickly became one of America’s most prestigious gunmakers. Their rifles, based on Mauser and Springfield actions, set new standards in precision and elegance, attracting patrons like Ernest Hemingway, Clark Gable, and President Dwight D. Eisenhower (Griffin & Howe).
The firm’s bespoke rifles are distinguished by meticulous stockwork, hand engraving, and balance. Their reputation for crafting custom rifles tailored to the hunter’s needs led to partnerships with Abercrombie & Fitch, who sold Griffin & Howe rifles as the epitome of sporting luxury throughout the mid-20th century.
Today, Griffin & Howe continues its legacy at Hudson Farm in Andover, New Jersey, producing world-class rifles and shotguns while also offering shooting instruction, safaris, and bespoke outfitting. Their modern line includes bolt-action rifles, double rifles, and fine shotguns built to the same standards that established their fame.
A century later, Griffin & Howe stands as proof that American gunmaking, when wedded to artistry and tradition, can rival the best of London and Suhl.
Shooting School
Sea Island Shooting School
On Georgia’s famed Sea Island, the Sea Island Shooting School has become a Southern sporting institution. Established in 1929, it remains one of the oldest continuously operating shooting schools in the United States (Sea Island).
The school’s reputation rests on two cornerstones: accessibility for beginners and refinement for seasoned Guns. Instructors emphasize a smooth, instinctive style rooted in the traditions of British driven shooting, adapted for both upland hunting and clays. Their methods focus on footwork, mount, and timing—with particular attention to rhythm rather than mechanics alone.
Facilities include five-stand sporting clays, skeet, trap, and simulated driven-game towers, allowing students to train for Southern quail, dove, or international grouse and pheasant shoots. Instruction is highly personalized, with a focus on safety, confidence, and the ability to replicate technique under field conditions.
The school is not just about improving your shooting — it is about sustaining a tradition of Southern hospitality, sportsmanship, and family fieldcraft that has endured for nearly a century.
Methods and Theories
The Square Load
The square load is one of the oldest ballistic principles in shotgun lore. It refers to a load where the height of the shot column in the cartridge is approximately equal to the bore diameter — a “square” proportion. Early gunmakers and writers, from W.W. Greener to Major Burrard, praised square loads for producing the most even and consistent shot patterns (The Gun and its Development by WW Greener).
The idea is that a shorter shot column (relative to bore diameter) reduces pellet deformation, leading to tighter and more uniform spreads. Square loads often balance recoil, penetration, and shot density.
Typical square loads include:
12-bore: 1⅛ oz (32 g) of shot
16-bore: 1 oz (28 g)
20-bore: ⅞ oz (24 g)
28-bore: ¾ oz (21 g)
.410 bore: ½ oz (14 g)
While modern powders and wads have altered performance, the square load remains a useful reference when handloading or selecting cartridges for balance and performance in the field. It stands as a principle rooted in both tradition and proven shooting science.
Gun Dog & Fieldcraft Highlight
The English Cocker Spaniel
Few breeds embody the joy of the field quite like the English Cocker Spaniel. Originally developed in Britain as a flushing dog for woodcock (hence “cocker”), the breed has become indispensable for both driven and walked-up shooting.
Compact, tireless, and affectionate, cockers excel in thick cover and bramble where larger dogs struggle. Their method is distinctive: a lively quartering pattern, nose low, tail wagging furiously, pushing birds into the air for the Gun. Cockers are as adept at retrieving as they are at flushing, often used for woodcock, grouse, and pheasant days alike (The Kennel Club UK).
What sets them apart is temperament. Cockers thrive as both sporting dogs and family companions. Their biddability, intelligence, and natural drive make them easier to train than some other spaniel breeds, though their exuberance requires patient handling.
In the field, a well-trained cocker is a picture of energy and style: ears flapping, eyes bright, and a soft-mouthed retrieve that honors the bird. For estates and private Guns seeking a balance of utility and charm, no all-around small breed is held in higher esteem.
Shoot Lunch & Wine Pairing
Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch
Game lunches have long been the centerpiece of the sporting day, but modern dining emphasizes lighter, more elegant pairings — particularly championed by “Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch”, an Australian winery crafting wines specifically to match wild game (Fowles Wine).
The concept is simple: wines designed with structure and acidity to balance the richness of venison, pheasant, or duck. Their shiraz, with dark berry fruit, pepper, and supple tannins, is particularly well-suited to recipes drawn from “The Wild Game Cookbook” by Mikael Einarsson and Hubbe Lemon (Natur & Kultur).
One standout dish is Venison with Root Vegetables and Juniper Sauce, a Swedish-inspired recipe balancing the sweetness of roasted parsnips and carrots with the earthy sharpness of juniper. Paired with shiraz, the result is harmonious: the wine’s spice elevates the sauce, while its body stands up to the venison’s depth.
Such combinations remind us that game is not only tradition — it is gastronomy. In the field or at the lodge, a carefully chosen wine completes the story of the day’s bag, elevating it from sustenance to celebration.
Quote from the GunPlow Library
“To cook game is to honor both the land and the hunt. Every ingredient should tell its story — of forests, fields, and seasons. It is not food hurried; it is food remembered.”
— from The Wild Game Cookbook by Mikael Einarsson & Hubbe Lemon
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