Dress code and etiquette

[Tanks]

Did she order her own double or will you be letting her use yours

Unfortunately she passed two years later. While I was at your place, she and my partner went to see the crown jewels.

 

[RIGBY]

Hi gents,

For those of you who have visited fine London guns shops, and their shooting ranges, how did you dress?
Smart casual, tweed, Beau Brummer style, "no brown in town"?

I will be visiting London in foreseeable future, so asking for your experience.

Thanks!

If you plan to come to Rigby, dress in whatever way you are comfortable. You will see that a lot of people there are also dressed for comfort.

 

[RIGBY]

Unfortunately she passed two years later. While I was at your place, she and my partner went to see the crown jewels.

Sorry to hear that – may she rest in peace!

 

[odonata]

Excuse my ignorance, but what is smart casual ?

Smart / business casual is the nice-looking middle ground: Not jeans, tshirts & sneakers. Not a suit, tie & polished leather. More like Polo shirts, button-downs & chinos.

 

[Muntjacer23]

Excuse my ignorance, but what is smart casual ?

Paul

nice shoes, shirt with a collar, chinos or smart trousers. But no need for a tie or a jacket

 

[Paul K]

What someone who isn’t carless wears on an off day.

You either look sharp while being casual or you just don’t. There is nuance.

“Put together” comes to mind.

Smart / business casual is the nice-looking middle ground: Not jeans, tshirts & sneakers. Not a suit, tie & polished leather. More like Polo shirts, button-downs & chinos.

Thank you, I'm just an old retired truck driver/owner operator / biker. The crowd / friends I hang out with are on the , shall we say the ruff side. I seriously didn't know what smart casual meant. Myself and most of my friends would think that meant a clean pair of jeans and a clean Harley shirt, clean underwear optional. In all seriousness thank you, I try to learn something everday.

Paul

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Thank you, I'm just an old retired truck driver/owner operator / biker. The crowd / friends I hang out with are on the , shall we say the ruff side. I seriously didn't know what smart casual meant. Myself and most of my friends would think that meant a clean pair of jeans and a clean Harley shirt, clean underwear optional. In all seriousness thank you, I try to learn something everday.

Paul

I get it. I have to go buy a pair khaki pants for an upcoming wedding.

 

[Paul K]

I get it. I have to go buy a pair khaki pants for an upcoming wedding.

Most of my wardrobe consists of camo, olive drab and khaki. My friends call me camo Paul, and the younger ones call me sir, you don't disrespect your elders in my crowd, all are and were hard working and honest men and women.

Paul

 

[Throwback]

I would dress however you want, be yourself. I have been in most of those London gun shops multiple times. In general it has been hit or miss on attention from them, I think mainly depending on who the sales person is. Mostly positive though. That said, I have noticed a difference, more interest from them, if you let them know you have been on a Safari or three, or some other serious hunting or can talk firearms from knowledgeable point of view. Or more so, when I let them know I have a H&H rifle and Purdey shotgun. That got their attention like nothing else as I guess I dont look/act like the typical owner, or a potential one.

We always laughed while visiting these shops on business trips to London as I get it that we fit a certain stereotype, a Texan, in the oil and gas business and wont be purchasing anything that day. "Gee, yet another one". Again, just be yourself and put it on them to be who they are. My two cents. Cheers

 

[Muskox]

20 years ago I was at the Sheep Show in Reno, I had never handled most of the custom rifles there on display. I owned a few and had hunted a bit, but wasn't the desired clientele. It was my first time at any hunting show, I happened to be at Air Wing Fallon, and me and some friends went down there to take a look. In those days I was a 700 Custom KS shooter, and I thought that guns as magic.

There were two people in two companies who gave me totally different booth experiences.

One was the current owner of fierce firearms. He worked for Christensen's and I took my check book out and he was hard selling me on a rifle. I was interested, but wasn't fully committed, someone he judged to be a whale came in the booth and he asked me to stand in the corner of the booth and wait for him. Christensen's and his rifles are complete shit now, so I feel vindicated. I have never owned anything from either company and never will.

Mark Bansner was the best. Explained everything to me and showed me every gun he made. Took time to explain everything and I was convinced at the time he was the best custom rifle maker ever. His rifles were a couple price points up the hill, and eventually I got a few but I was hooked. About 10 years ago I was ordering another stock from him and he answered the phone. I told him the story again, and he told me that he had time for everyone, as you never know when the kid that ask questions will become the life long customer.

When Ridby was in Paso Robles I was not allowed in even though I had an appointment. My plan was to order one of the M88 Winchester like Boddington had. Had an 88, had the wood in my hand and the lady at the door didn't let me in. Couple years later they went out of business. Didn't cry any tears for those guys.

Saying that. I don't kick tires in a Lamborghini dealership. So I can't imagine I would kick tires at Purdey or Holland. I don't need a 65 pound ball cap or a 150 pound polo shirt.

Now thet Blaser/Mauser/Sauer is Rigby I might consider it. Though, I hate London and wouldn't probably go there. But if I did, I would wear my navy diver UDT shorts with one of the rounder parts slightly exposed on the left side, and a Kuiu t-shirt and flip flops. I'd sign autographs for anyone that was interested.

I have had less than stellar experiences with Rigby at Jagd and Hund, might be because I am usually there on Friday or Thursday and everyone has their nerves grated pretty hard at that point. So I kind of stopped looking.

Been 30 years since I had a pair of UDT shorts, and I bet they don't make 42 waist UDTs. But it would be funny.

 

[Paul K]

I would dress however you want, be yourself. I have been in most of those London gun shops multiple times. In general it has been hit or miss on attention from them, I think mainly depending on who the sales person is. Mostly positive though. That said, I have noticed a difference, more interest from them, if you let them know you have been on a Safari or three, or some other serious hunting or can talk firearms from knowledgeable point of view. Or more so, when I let them know I have a H&H rifle and Purdey shotgun. That got their attention like nothing else as I guess I dont look/act like the typical owner, or a potential one.

We always laughed while visiting these shops on business trips to London as I get it that we fit a certain stereotype, a Texan, in the oil and gas business and wont be purchasing anything that day. "Gee, yet another one". Again, just be yourself and put it on them to be who they are. My two cents. Cheers

I'm familiar with working in the oil patch. In the late 70's and early 80's, I was least to H.J.Jeffries out of OK City and hauled casing, mud pumps and oil rigs all over the country and Canada until it shut down. Took my truck to places that most people would think twice about taking a jeep. Hauled alot of casing out of Lone Star Texas. Sorry about being off topic.

Paul

 

[Houston Bill]

This is how I was dressed the day I went to Rigby to be fitted for my Shikari double. Black jeans, tee shirt, pull over long sleeve golf shirt and a light safari jacket.

Here is how I was dressed for the day I went to Holland & Holland's Shooting Grounds outside London and was fitted for a Holland & Holland double. Black jeans, tee shirt and long sleeve pullover shirt. Got to shoot a Holland & Holland Royal in 500 NE at their underground range....very cool!

My wife and I were treated very well at both the Rigby location and at the Holland & Holland office in London and a few days later at the Shooting Grounds

 

[Tanks]

Excuse my ignorance, but what is smart casual ?

Paul

Here is an example, dress shirt, no tie, jacket and slacks (not shown).

Kinda similar to this guy's look.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I do the rounds of the London and Birmingham gun shops as often as I can and now throw in some Scottish lifestyle ones too like Grahams of Inverness, House of Bruar and Campbells of Beauly. I think the experience is just that much more rewarding if you take the trouble to dress well, it is sort of a respect thing. I am from Africa and go on African safaris, so the standard garb is a Westley Richards set up of expedition shirt, safari trousers with side pouches, an expedition jacket, Courteney boots and a hat. You can wear that literally anywhere, including on safari, which I do! It is just about enjoyment though, so do your own thing.

 

[Rimbaud]

Re, what to wear: Amex Platinum, at minimum, with banker/broker waiting in the office to wire proceeds should you prefer

 

[Rumrunner]

I was at DSC a few years ago and went to one of the big name double rifle exhibits. I was being totally ignored so I reached down and picked up one of their $150K rifles. I got their full attention.

 

[Muskox]

I was at a Kia-Porche dealership in Fresno California when I was stationed in Lemoore. Kia had a new SUV, and it was affordable and I was trying to get one bought. It was E-4 affordable. The same dealership sold Porsche sports cars. They had bout 20, and while I was standing there in my t-shirt and wranglers an old Portuguese dairy farmer was standing there covered in cowshit buying his 15th Porche 911.

My salesman told me that he was there about twice a year buying a new 911. I said how did you know not to turn him away, the salesman said that was poor salesmanship to turn anyone away. As you don't want to run someone off and create an enemy of your company.

Salesmen need to be careful on how they treat people.

I also think that if you aren't in the actual market for something at a price point you aren't going to get into and you continually seek how to rub elbows with the company, you are the reason salesmen are dicks.

I am not going to attempt to come up with a price point metric, it is probably different for everyone.