News from John Dickson & Son - January 2025
January 2025

Safari Club International 2025,
Vintage Gun Inventory Update,
Lead in Ammunition Restriction for UK,
Dickson Steel Thistle Cartridge
Safari Club International 2025
John Dickson & Son are very pleased to announce that they will again be exhibiting at SCI 2025, the 53rd Annual Hunters' Convention and Ultimate Sportsmen's Market, which will take place January 22-25, 2025, at the Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee. The show attracts thousands of hunters, anglers, recreational shooters, conservationists, guides, and outfitters annually and is perhaps the most dynamic and diverse hunting show in the world.
If you are attending the show then please drop in to see us in the Gunmakers Village at Booth 902, where a selection of fine Scottish guns by Dickson, MacNaughton and Daniel Fraser will be on display. A member of the Dickson team will be on hand to assist with any enquiry but if you would like to make a specific appointment, you can make arrangements through our contact form here
Vintage Gun Inventory Update
We hold the largest selection of pre-owned Dickson Round-Action guns and whether you are looking to grow your collection or upgrade your current sporting gun, John Dickson & Son has a superb range of pre-owned vintage guns from other Scottish gun and rifle makers. All guns have been prepared through our workshop making them available for immediate sale and delivery, and working with our export partners we can facilitate sending your purchase to a nominated firearms dealer in your country. We have consignments leaving for the USA on a monthly basis.
We have just added a few interesting and rare Scottish guns to our inventory, including:
- John Dickson & Son 12 gauge Round-Action - Built 1895, 28in sleeved barrels, long stock
- John Dickson & Son 12 gauge Round-Action - Built 1894, 29in steel barrels, beautiful stock
- John Dickson & Son 12 gauge Round-Action - Built 1895, NEW barrels with 2 3/4in chambers
- James MacNaughton 20 gauge Boxlock - Built 1912, small gauge gun with 2 3/4in chambers
We also have a few interesting Scottish guns currently going through the workshop being prepared for sale:
- Daniel Fraser 12 gauge boxlock ejector - Rare Fraser patent shotgun with chopper-lump steel barrels, made in 1895
- Francis Davie 12 gauge boxlock ejector - High grade sideplated boxlock with a gorgeous stock, made 1892
- John Dickson & Son 12 gauge Round-Action - Built 1904, 28in new barrels with 2 3/4in chambers
- John Dickson & Son 12 gauge Round-Action - Built 1904, 29in steel barrels, beautiful stock
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.
Lead in Ammunition Restriction for UK
In 2021 the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) tasked the Health and Safety executive (HSE) to examine the use of lead in ammunition. After a series of public consultations and direct communication, HSE have now issued their ‘Final Opinion’. The Final Opinion is, in parallel, now presented to the Secretary of State for DEFRA as the ‘appropriate authority’ for action. He now has 3 months to take action, most likely the production of a statutory instrument to present to Parliament. Without objection, this then becomes law.
Outline statement:
Lead Shot
• The use of lead shot for live quarry shooting would be prohibited.
• The use of lead shot for target shooting would be prohibited. However, a derogation will allow a for a number of competitive athletes on British Shooting lists to continue shooting lead shot for the purposes of international competition and training.
• The placing on the market of lead shot for target shooting would be prohibited. However, a derogation will allow for supply to competitive athletes.
• 5 year transition for all above.
Lead Bullets
• The use of large calibre lead bullets (≥6.17 mm) for live quarry shooting would be prohibited.
• The use of small calibre lead bullets (<6.17 mm) for live quarry shooting would not be prohibited.
• The placing on the market of large calibre (≥6.17 mm) lead bullets for live quarry shooting would be prohibited. A label will be required for all large calibre (≥6.17 mm) lead bullets for target shooting indicating that they “must not be used for live quarry shooting”.
• 3 year transition for above.
• The placing on the market of small calibre (<6.17 mm) lead bullets for live quarry shooting would not be prohibited.
• The use of lead bullets (all calibres) for outdoor target shooting would be prohibited.
• 2 year transition.
• However, a derogation would allow for this use to continue at sites that have controls in place to reduce the identified risks to the environment, and documentation indicating why these controls are appropriate.
• In practice, these controls, which include de-leading of ranges, are broadly expected to be in place at the majority of existing outdoor shooting ranges. This means that the majority of outdoor shooting ranges could continue to operate and allow the use of lead bullets, and so the placing on the market of lead bullets (all calibres) for outdoor target shooting at approved ranges would not be prohibited.
Since 2021, John Dickson & Son has been investigating
non-toxic alternatives for both shot and bullet.
Although non-toxic bullets are widely available from a variety of manufacturers,
we have a solution to service vintage shotguns
in the form of our Steel Thistle cartridge.
Dickson 'Steel Thistle' Cartridge
Designed especially for John Dickson & Son, our 'Steel Thistle' standard performance steel cartridges offers an immediate solution for your vintage gun so it can be used for seasons to come.
Available in 2 1/2 inch and featuring Hydrowad technology - a biodegradable cup wad which maintains tight patterns and aids barrel protection for use with steel shot and is 100% plastic free, non-toxic and will degrade in the field over a period of time.