William Evans to exhibit latest sporting arms at 2012 SCI Annual Hunters’ Convention

30th January 2012

William Evans, one of England’s oldest-established gunmakers and world-renowned for its high-quality side-by-side and over-and-under shotguns, bolt-action and double rifles, will exhibit some of its finest sporting arms at the Safari Club International’s 40thAnnual Hunters’ Convention in Las Vagas, NV, from 1st– 4thFebruary 2012 (Stand Number 2051).

The London-based company has been at the forefront of innovation in the gun trade ever since it was established in 1883 and today exports all over the world, its guns being particularly well received by sportsmen in the USA and Canada.

At the SCI Convention William Evans will exhibit a stunning example of its best-quality bespoke double rifle, a .500 Nitro Express featuring custom engraving, together with its new Pall Mall side-by-side and St James over-and-under shotguns, both of which have been exceptionally well received by clients and the shooting press.

The Pall Mall side-by-side combines exceptional quality with excellent value for money, being priced from £12,500 + VAT. Since its recent launch the Pall Mall has created a great deal of interest amongst sportsmen all over the world.

Featuring best-quality wood, a choice of straight-hand, pistol grip or Prince of Wales stock design and a splinter-end fore-end with Anson-style push-rod release mechanism, the Pall Mall can be specified with 28" or 30" barrels and various rib styles, has 2¾" chambers proofed to C.I.P standards, together with fixed chokes and double triggers. Weighing approximately 6lb in 20-bore form and 6lb 8oz to 7lb as a 12-bore, it can be ordered with a range of optional extras, including ‘exhibition grade’ wood, 3" chambers, invisible ‘Teague’ multi-chokes and a custom-made case.

The St James over-and-under was introduced to meet the demand for a more affordable model from William Evans and shares bespoke features with the company’s traditional, fully-hand-crafted English guns. A high-quality side-plated shotgun which is named after the area of London in which William Evans has been based since 1888, the St James is available as a 12, 20 or 28-bore, with 28" or 30" barrels that can be used with steel shot cartridges, have 3" chambers and are factory-fitted with multi-chokes to provide exceptional versatility.

Painstakingly designed and developed to deliver the ideal handling characteristics for game shooting, the St James offers a practical, useable, economical and easy-to-maintain alternative to traditional side-by-sides. Costing from £10,000 + VAT, including a case, it is substantially cheaper than other English-style over-and-under shotguns. Consequently, this exciting model has been very successful in attracting a new audience to William Evans, those seeking the reassurance of dealing with a well-respected, long-established business, but at a more affordable price. More than half of the St James models manufactured to date have been purchased by clients who are new to the William Evans brand and this model has demonstrated that high-quality guns from a long-established, well-respected company which are produced in limited numbers have an extremely high second-hand value

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1.

Further press information is available from Julian Cooksley, Kendalls Communications – Tel: +44 (0) 1394 610022 or email: julian.cooksley@kendallscom.co.uk

2.

High-resolution digital images are available to illustrate this press release. Please contact Kerry-Anne Rookyard at Kendalls on 01394 610022, or email kerry-anne.rookyard@kendallscom.co.uk

3.

Having learned his craft by working for James Purdey & Son and Holland & Holland, William Evans founded his business at 95a Buckingham Palace Road during 1883. In 1885 the business moved to 4 Holden Terrace, Pimlico, but by 1888 had outgrown the premises and relocated to 4 Pall Mall Place, before transferring to 63 Pall Mall in 1896. By then, William Evans' client list was firmly established and the move to St. James's further strengthened its position by attracting the patronage of members of several prestigious gentlemen's clubs and the Houses of Parliament. In 1944 the premises were badly damaged by a war-time bomb, forcing the business to move to its current site at 67 St James's Street. William Evans ventured outside of London for the first time in its 125-year history in October 2007 by establishing a retail facility at the National Shooting Centre at Bisley Camp in Surrey.

William Evans Limited is based at 67a St James’s Street, London SW1A 1PH (Tel: +44 (0) 207 493 0415). Further details are available at www.williamevans.com

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