Not a shot in the dark.

While scouting the many many locations which populated my to-do/to-see/to-buy list, St James' was of course one of the most convenient streets as it had a heady mix of all that was necessary- leather goods, apothecaries, wine shops, hat stores, cobblers, gentlemen's clubs (of the proper variety, not its contemporary version).  Well, going in and out of these was no mean feat in itself, and quite easily one can be overwhelmed.

Fortunately, I had along my partner in crime, who has through me become tricked into the world of my own material desires.  As we were walking by, I noticed that one well dressed older fellow had a bag which sported the words "William Evans, Gun & Rifle Makers" and I thought that was dreadfully interesting and wondered where it was located.  Lo and behold, it was right there on the very corner, as he had just emerged from it.  Giving the window display a once over was enough to lure us in, and surprisingly enough, it was an item of hunting clothing (a green tweed overcoat) which drew my friend down into the lower level where the item could be found.  Alas, the sizing was not quite right, but it did not deter us in the least in our now ongoing hunt for a proper tweed ensemble.

part of the window display with the item in question

While there, we passed through the gun room, which was a sight to behold.  Not having been to such an establishment for well over a decade (not being a hunter myself, and not for any moral reason but just never having such an opportunity), it was interesting to look through the racks and racks of arms that would surely send many a grouse to an early doom.

As a side note, a few nights later, while holed in a hotel in York, I saw a documentary on the countryside (I believe it was called "Country Life"), there was a segment on women hunting for grouse.  The very next day, we found ourselves at Castle Howard (more famously known as "Brideshead") and there was a delectable assortment of fresh grouse and other absolutely marvelous red meats(the butcher indicated as much to a customer) which "had been alive just the night before"