Double Gun Journal's Last Volume

[Red Leg]

Not sure if many here ever subscribed to what I believe was a truly remarkable quarterly journal. Its focus was always classic double shotguns, double rifles, and best quality single shots. Ross Seyfried, who I believe knows more about golden era guns than anyone else alive, was a regular guest contributor. I have subscribed since the early nineties. Sadly, yesterday I received a note from Daniel and Joanna Cote that the Journal was ceasing publication. Their message read in part, "....it is with much regret that due to inflated material and labor costs, and diminishing interest in classic guns, we are forced to discontinue the Double Gun Journal. ..... For the past few years we have been operating at a loss. ....... The young people of today are not nearly so interested in classic guns and subsequently many of our older collectors, with no one to leave their guns to, are forced to sell their collections to get their estates in order."

Those observations struck me as a likely requiem for our sport in general, not just the firearms we take to the field in its pursuit. It is a publication that I and many others will miss.

 

[GeorgeGibbs505]

It’s the best magazine in this country for Fine Guns, I have every issue and even some of the rifles pictured in some of them. It is a very big loss that unfortunately won’t be picked up by anyone.

 

[Doug3006]

A sad sign of the times. I believe you’re right about the end of an era. As hard as I’ve tried, I can’t seem to interest many young people in classic firearms. I was a subscriber of DGJ for 20 years. I let my subscription lapse when I got into Africa. I saved all of the back issues though. Their magazines were like fine books!

 

[Sourdough]

That is indeed sad. I was unaware of the publication until early this year when I acquired an English Double 20 Bore from the very early 1800’s that has both flintlock and percussion cap ignition. A friend suggested I contact DGJ as he felt they’d be very interested in the gun and would probably want to write an article about it. I contacted them and they were uninterested in even seeing pictures. I thought that odd but in light of this sad news I now understand why.

Regarding the declining interest in anything that won’t fit on an iPhone or isn’t part of the narcissist Facebutt culture, it is something that unfortunately will continue. I’ve watched warbird ownership go from enthusiasts who not only collect them but also fly them, to moving to just collections gathering dust. Sad but inevitable times.

 

[93marlin]

It’s the best magazine in this country for Fine Guns, I have every issue and even some of the rifles pictured in some of them. It is a very big loss that unfortunately won’t be picked up by anyone.

They are located near where I live. It was an awesome magazine and the information contained in each issue was of tremendous value to anyone that was an aficionado of fine doubles.
It will be missed.

 

[Anbessa Gedai]

Sad news indeed. To call it a "magazine" was almost an insult . . .

 

[eyedok]

Will be missed for sure, seems that if its not black and semiauto, the new generation doesnt care, patients ask all the time “what gun did you use?” “300H&H” “ huh??”

 

[wesheltonj]

A judge I knew, alway had a copy or two of that magazine on his bench. His interest was double shotguns. Sorry to see it close. But, I am afraid @Red Leg is correct about the future.

 

[Doug3006]

Maybe they’ll make a TV series where the heroes kill zombies with a H&H Royal side lock? Seemed to resurrect the Colt Python.

 

[ET1775]

Maybe they’ll make a TV series where the heroes kill zombies with a H&H Royal side lock? Seemed to resurrect the Colt Python.

More movies like "The Ghost and the Darkness" would be welcomed.

I am still fairly young and I have my fair share of the plastic fantastic tactical gear but I have been reading books about hunting Africa since I was a child and used to read every Double Gun Journal I could find and loved every page.

I cannot speak for nations other than my own but while there are likely still many young people interested in fine guns, far fewer can afford them. The dollar doesn't go as far as it used to and there are always more directions a budget is pulled in. Coupled with the ever increasing prevalence of internet and free media, print has suffered tremendously. Many bookstores have shut down and publications are going under. Sad to hear of another casualty in technology war.

 

[VertigoBE]

Where these ever published in electronic version?

I’ll start looking on eBay… any specific volumes that would be recommended?

 

[mark-hunter]

Those observations struck me as a likely requiem for our sport in general, not just the firearms we take to the field in its pursuit. It is a publication that I and many others will miss.

I think, not necessarily.
Our sport, is not depending only on double barrel and classic guns, for which (in era of modern bolt actions, and semi auto rifles) indeed the interest drops.

Then, there is the era of all things on-line, and modern i-phones and smart phones.
New generation does not like to read paper, they like to check fast info online.

So, there are two negative factors that affect such paper published magazine. Relatively narrow area of coverage, (classic break action guns), and competition with all things online.

My personal opinion, for them in order to survive, is they should consider widening the area of coverage to classic bolt actions (at least) and switching to online magazine publishing, with subscription. If they dont adapt, they will vanish, as dinosaurs. This is sad, but also a fact. Its happening

American rifleman, Gun digest, guns and ammo and similar online magazines + their optional printed edition, are modern way to go.
What they all have in common, as business model, they cover a complete variety of firearms types, outdoor activities (all types of shooting), for sport, self defense, and hunting - national and international.
With online edition and optional printed edition, they also cover both types of consumers - old fashion people who read paper, and new generation, millennials who prefer reading online.

(oh, btw, i prefer paper, I am old fashion, I like books and magazines) I have a kindle, received as present, and never used it.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

It is sad to hear that this publication has gone down, I never saw a copy but will look out for one. I am not as pessimistic about the future of our sport as some of you. Like @mark-hunter I think the purveyors must adapt, but I also see a lot of growing interest in hunting here in Africa, amongst the youth, the black folk and the Asians. Each of us can and must do our bit to advance interest and relevance where we can, and having the lady hunters like @Just Gina write and spread the news amongst the ladies and girls too. Ultimately the backbone of this sport is having you American and European hunters hunting, both at home but especially in Africa. That is where the critical mass lies. Demand creates business and recurrent business builds. It wasn't just because numbers of hunters declined that DGJ went down, it was also that we the existing hunters didn't bother to subscribe.

 

[CAustin]

Not sure if many here ever subscribed to what I believe was a truly remarkable quarterly journal. Its focus was always classic double shotguns, double rifles, and best quality single shots. Ross Seyfried, who I believe knows more about golden era guns than anyone else alive, was a regular guest contributor. I have subscribed since the early nineties. Sadly, yesterday I received a note from Daniel and Joanna Cote that the Journal was ceasing publication. Their message read in part, "....it is with much regret that due to inflated material and labor costs, and diminishing interest in classic guns, we are forced to discontinue the Double Gun Journal. ..... For the past few years we have been operating at a loss. ....... The young people of today are not nearly so interested in classic guns and subsequently many of our older collectors, with no one to leave their guns to, are forced to sell their collections to get their estates in order."

Those observations struck me as a likely requiem for our sport in general, not just the firearms we take to the field in its pursuit. It is a publication that I and many others will miss.

Let us all hope that on this one you are just a little shy of being right sir, Insread of a requiem, Perhaps we are going through a phase and that what was old will be new again someday. I hope to have my grandson in a deer stand next year. As for my double and other rifles …..well my son already has his eye on them.

 

[Fixfire]

Well, so sorry to hear. I’ve been wanting to subscribe for years but never got around to doing so. I already have a backlog of other publications to process. Unfortunately my procrastination contributed to their decline.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

I have Double Gun Journals from their beginning to about 2010 or later. They are wonderful works of photographic art for gun affectionados, i.e. gun porn!

I stopped receiving them when I went cold turkey from collecting vintage SxS shotguns. It had to be done ...

As for the younger generation's interest in fine, vintage guns, I too was once young.
- I remember at 15 buying a Remington Mohawk 10-C nylon 66 type magazine fed semi auto. I unsuccessful tried to file down the sear so it would be full auto. Jam-o-matic was all I got. My local gunsmith got me a new sear.
- I also put aside a Parker Hale 1200 Super for an old Winchester Model 94 for more firepower during Pennsylvania's one deer only season. Heck, I was on the high school rifle team and every year dropped deer for myself and my less skilled older friends with one shot. Why did I think I needed quick follow on shots?
- While I admired fine guns, I did not envision ever owning any. Four or five decades later I owned many dozen fine rifles, shotguns, and handguns. Then I thinned out my collection a little.

I remember when Pong was introduced to the local teenage hangout. The only shootemup we had was sneaking into the town dump at night with flashlights taped to our .22's. My repaired semi auto Mohawk kill a lot of rats within 10 feet of me!

Kids today grow up with sophisticated interactive computer role playing run and gun games. It's no wonder they want an AR-15 as soon as it is legal to buy one! Is that any different than my generation wanting a semi auto .22?

Will vintage gun appreciation die out with my, or the next generation? Probably not. Gun values will rise and fall in perhaps generational cycles. As the young of today age and gain an appreciation for hand crafted guns, they too will look back at their blasting away with AR's and AK's as I fondly remember my youth.

 

[jeanes]

In "The Hunting Rifle" Jack O'Connor predicted the demise of double guns a couple of generations ago. He claimed that as the craftsmen who knew how to build and regulate doubles died off they would cease to be built. They are still being made, bought and used. Perhaps not Purdys and Hollands, but doubles are still around. Print journalism is waneing but I'd like to think interest in hunting and shooting is still strong.

 

[Inline6]

@Red Leg

I believe your observations are more on point than many may want to admit. Hunting license sale especially in the north east are dropping while the average age is going up. Meaning we are not seeing new hunters to make up for the old guard.

Watching traffic on this site does not show a big influx of new people. That may or may not be a fair comparison. Facebook draws in the younger generations. I don't have a Facebook nor will I. So that said things can be better (more popular) then I would realize.

My personal experience, my little guy (9) plays baseball. When his team mates spend the night at the house he will show them his mounts. None of them have been Hunting out of the 2 dozen or so that have been over. It's no longer the time where you talked to farmer Jim down the road and help him throw some hay or fix some fence so you can hunt his fields. Does that still happen I'm sure not to the extent it once did.

Hunting is expensive, leases, feed, blinds, time off work to hunt, process cost, and the list goes on. One can see how it is easier for someone to go to the store by some meat and be money as well as time ahead. Then throw on the Disney culture that implies animals are people and kids think that way. Those kids are now adults...and I'm not sure their mindset has changed.

Now you have target shooting sports, which I really enjoy. It is action packed you are pitted against one another and you can see how you compare to everyone in your class. Those matches usually do not involve classic firearms. One thing I have learned in shooting matches, most people do not like getting out of their comfort zone. Like 98% why mention that, if people are not willing to shoot a match, why would they take on hunting buy themselves? Just my observations.

 

[WAB]

In "The Hunting Rifle" Jack O'Connor predicted the demise of double guns a couple of generations ago. He claimed that as the craftsmen who knew how to build and regulate doubles died off they would cease to be built. They are still being made, bought and used. Perhaps not Purdys and Hollands, but doubles are still around. Print journalism is waneing but I'd like to think interest in hunting and shooting is still strong.

I’m not sure I understand your point, the London makers are certainly still making double rifles.

 

[Fixfire]

@Red Leg

I believe your observations are more on point than many may want to admit. Hunting license sale especially in the north east are dropping while the average age is going up. Meaning we are not seeing new hunters to make up for the old guard.

Watching traffic on this site does not show a big influx of new people. That may or may not be a fair comparison. Facebook draws in the younger generations. I don't have a Facebook nor will I. So that said things can be better (more popular) then I would realize.

My personal experience, my little guy (9) plays baseball. When his team mates spend the night at the house he will show them his mounts. None of them have been Hunting out of the 2 dozen or so that have been over. It's no longer the time where you talked to farmer Jim down the road and help him throw some hay or fix some fence so you can hunt his fields. Does that still happen I'm sure not to the extent it once did.

Hunting is expensive, leases, feed, blinds, time off work to hunt, process cost, and the list goes on. One can see how it is easier for someone to go to the store by some meat and be money as well as time ahead. Then throw on the Disney culture that implies animals are people and kids think that way. Those kids are now adults...and I'm not sure their mindset has changed.

Now you have target shooting sports, which I really enjoy. It is action packed you are pitted against one another and you can see how you compare to everyone in your class. Those matches usually do not involve classic firearms. One thing I have learned in shooting matches, most people do not like getting out of their comfort zone. Like 98% why mention that, if people are not willing to shoot a match, why would they take on hunting buy themselves? Just my observations.

My observations are that our’s and prior generations hunted first, then became shooters (shooting sports). Now I see young shooters, that have never hunted - unless it’s bow.