Latest News

The Last Keeper

Tom Opre, the wildlife conservationist and human rights activist has just launched his latest documentary movie 'The Last Keeper' which focuses on the difficult subject of conflict surrounding land use in Scotland. The movie follows Opre and his team as they traverse Scotland, engaging with individuals on all sides of the land use debate - from estate owners, keepers and members of local communities to environmental NGOs, politicians and proponents of rewilding. More than 190 hours of footage captured the struggles, aspirations, and personal stories of those deeply entrenched in the issue. The movie was produced with support from the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) Scotland, providing extensive research, people access and locations to support a compelling story.

Tom's last film, Killing the Shepherd, investigated African hunting conservation through the eyes of an indigenous tribe, winning numerous film festival awards. It has been influential in public policy and was shown at the CITES conference, COP 19, US Congress and the House of Lords, as a warning to the unintended impacts on conservation and indigenous people from well-meaning trophy hunting restrictions. 

As the debate around land reform continues to grow in Scotland, landowners, estate workers and the charitable sector gathered in Edinburgh in April for the world premier of the documentary that puts the issue under the spotlight. This has been followed up by a number of screenings in Scotland to showcase the film but also provide education to the wider community about the hunting tourism, land management and agricultural sectors in Scotland. The film has already won two awards at leading international film festivals and will be available across mainstream digital streaming platforms soon.

John Dickson & Son were very privileged to be involved in this project and Managing Director, J-P Daeschler, features briefly in the film explaining the impact of continued hunting tourism restriction in Scotland and the toll it is taking on the Dickson's gunmaking business and the linked industries dependant on this revenue stream.

25th Southern Celebration - The Southern 2024

John Dickson & Son has just returned from another great week at Deep River Sporting Clays attending The Southern Classic Side by Side Championship and Exhibition. The attendance, weather and food were all fantastic and fun was had by all with friends old and new. The Dickson Round-Action Challenge was well contested and the trophy finally lifted by a Dickson Owners Club member who took second place last year. We very much look forward to returning next year.  You can find out more about this great event here

Vintage Gun Inventory Update

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

• William McCall 12 gauge boxlock ejector - new long stock, excellent newer steel barrels
• John Dickson & Son 12 gauge boxlock Non-ejector - tidy little gun with good provenance
• James MacNaughton 12 gauge 'Edinburgh' Round-Action - A rare example in great condition
• John Dickson & Son 12 gauge Round-action - Single Trigger with long stock

We also have a few interesting Scottish guns currently going through the workshop being prepared for sale:

• John Dickson & Son 12 gauge Round-action - Centenary model, 1 of 5 special guns engraved by Harry Kell
• John Dickson & Son 12 gauge Round-action - sleeved, entry level into Round-Action ownership
  
• John Dickson & Son 12 gauge hammer gun - made for Charles Gordon in 1890
• Alex Martin 'Ribless' 12 gauge boxlock ejector - a great lightweight gun fitted with ribless barrels

If we can assist with any of the guns above, please use our contact form  here