Latest News

Final call on Gun Servicing

As the season approaches, we are encouraging all our customers to consider the servicing and maintenance of their guns. Regular servicing is rewarded with reliability, protecting your investment and avoids a disastrous day in the field. Our skilled team can help you prepare your gun or rifle with a pre-season service, and provide any further recommendations you may need. Dickson's service and repair facility offers an array of options, starting from a simple strip & re-grease to a complete overhaul. All servicing and repair work is assessed on an individual basis, and our Gun Room Manager can also advise on alterations, restoration, or necessary repairs.

To book your gun in or speak to member of staff regarding a service, please get in touch using our contact form here 

Dress to Impress - Dickson Shooting Socks

New for this season is a limited run of the Dickson Shooting Socks made exclusively for us in our Dickson colours of Lovat and Burgundy with matching garters. These rugged socks are knitted with a plain cable ankle and chessboard top in a soft merino wool blend and ideal for wearing with boots, wellies and brogues whilst out in the field. These socks are designed, knitted and hand finished in Scotland. Contact the shop here to obtain your pair today.

Vintage Gun Inventory Update

We have just added a few interesting and rare Scottish guns to our Vintage Gun Inventory, including:

• John Dickson & Son 12 gauge Round-Action - 1937 Centenary model, 1 of 5 special guns engraved by Harry Kell
• John Dickson & Son 12 gauge hammer gun - Scott pigeon action, 2 3/4in chambers, 29in newly sleeved barrels, made in 1886
• John Dickson & Son 12 gauge hammer gun - 2 3/4in chambers, made for Charles Gordon in 1890
• John MacPherson 12 gauge boxlock Non-ejector - 2 3/4in chambers, wide rib and heavy choked 30in barrels

We also have a number of interesting Dickson guns currently going through the workshop being prepared for sale, and they will be added to our website soon:

• John Dickson & Son 12 gauge Round-Action - re-manufactured in 2024, an 'as new' gun
• John Dickson & Son 12 gauge Round-Action - early 1893 action, indicators, long stock, 27in sleeved barrels
  
• John Dickson & Son 12 gauge Round-Action - classic 1901 action, 28in sleeved barrels 
• John Dickson & Son 12 gauge hammer gun - 2 3/4in chambers, 30in newly sleeved barrels, made in 1877

If we can assist with any further information on the guns above, please get in touch using our contact form here 

Please note that the vast majority of our guns find new homes before they even make it to our website so get in touch if you are looking for something specific.

MacNaughton arms for a Royal Yacht

Every month we receive enquiries from around the world in regard to the gunmakers records we hold. Often it is current custodians looking to find out more about their gun - when was it made? who was it made for? In June 2024 we were contacted by the owner of a Lee Enfield bolt-action rifle who resided in Spain. The rifle was completely standard in specification but engraved with the name and address of James MacNaughton on the barrel and a MacNaughton four-digit serial number on the trigger guard. This is not particularly unusual for the business of James MacNaughton, as he retailed many rifles and pistols of other manufacturers whilst his craftsmen focused on his Round-Action guns being made in his Edinburgh workshop.  A quick check of the records in the year 1900 revealed something very different from the standard supply of the odd Enfield rifle.

An order for 24 Lee Enfield rifles to arm a yacht and supplied to Ramage & Ferguson. But it did not stop there, preceding the order for the rifles was also an order for 12 revolvers, again for Ramage & Ferguson

Ramage & Ferguson was a Scottish shipbuilder active from 1877 to 1934, who specialised in luxury steam-yachts usually with steel hulls and timber decks. The company was formed in May 1877 in the outer harbour area of the Water of Leith on the west side of the Shore in Leith, backing onto the then relatively new Victoria Dock. Ships were launched into the Water of Leith, greatly limiting the maximum size of ship capable of launch. Production moved from iron to steel in 1880 and major expansions were made in 1892. 

The company quickly gained a reputation for creating luxury steam yachts for the rich and famous. They also made tramp steamers and various mid-sized vessels for East India service and during the First World War, the company made two hospital ships for the Admiralty. Ramage & Ferguson got into financial difficulty in 1934 and was bought over by Henry Robb & Sons, an existing shipbuilder in Leith, as a secondary yard. The yard was used up until the 1970's and cleared of buildings in 1985. The slipway remained intact until around 1995 when it was built over to form a section of the Water of Leith Walkway. 

Amélia IV, the Royal Yacht of King Carlos I of Portugal

The yacht housing these rifles and pistols was the Amélia IV, designed by Cox & King of London and built by Ramage & Ferguson. The yacht was originally ordered by Colonel Harry McCalmont, but soon purchased by King Carlos I of Portugal as the Royal Yacht, having a minor refit at Ramage & Ferguson and arriving in Portugal on 2nd September 1901. The refit included arming the yacht with 24 rifles and 12 revolvers for the crew. She served a dual purpose as the Portuguese Navy also used her for oceanographic research. In 1908 she travelled to the Exhibition of the centenary of the opening of the Ports of Brazil with presents from the by then late King Carlos I. When the monarchy of Portugal was overthrown in 1910, Amélia IV transported the new young King, Manuel II to safety in Gibraltar. The Portuguese Navy took possession of the yacht and she was then renamed Cinco de Outubro, and was then finally disposed of in 1937.