Born from a love
of the outdoors.
English Doubles began with a lifelong appreciation for the sporting life, the outdoorsman community and the remarkable craftsmanship found in Britain’s historic sporting guns.
More than a collection.
A genuine passion.
English Doubles was founded by Tom Crabill from a simple idea: to share the appreciation he had developed for traditional British sporting guns with others who value craftsmanship, history and the sporting life just as deeply.
Explore the British Gunmakers Archive →Tom Crabill
For Tom, the story of English Doubles began long before the company had a name. It began with a lifelong connection to the outdoors and an appreciation for the traditions, friendships and sense of community shared among sportsmen.
Over time, that interest led him deeper into the world of historic British sporting guns. What began as curiosity developed into a genuine admiration for the craftsmanship, individuality and history found in English doubles.
As that passion grew, Tom formed relationships with collectors and enthusiasts throughout Britain, gaining not only access to remarkable sporting guns but also to the knowledge and stories surrounding them.
Rooted in the
sporting life.
The outdoors has always been about more than a destination. It is a community built around shared experiences, traditions passed between generations and an appreciation for things made to last.
Through that community, Tom’s interest in sporting history continued to grow. He became particularly drawn to antique British firearms and the extraordinary level of craftsmanship represented by the English gunmaking tradition.
Each gun seemed to carry something different — the character of its maker, the marks of hand craftsmanship and a history stretching back through generations of sporting life.
Relationships built
in Britain.
As Tom explored British gunmaking more deeply, that interest led him beyond books and individual examples. He began developing relationships with collectors and enthusiasts throughout Britain who shared the same respect for these historic sporting guns.
Those relationships brought more than access to remarkable examples. They brought knowledge, stories and connections with people who understood why these pieces remain so special.
Over time, Tom began bringing select examples from Britain to the United States, allowing American collectors and sporting enthusiasts to experience the craftsmanship, history and character that had captured his own attention.
From appreciation
to English Doubles.
The Outdoors
A lifelong connection to sporting tradition and the outdoorsman community created the foundation.
The Discovery
An appreciation for antique British sporting guns grew into a fascination with their history and craftsmanship.
The Connections
Relationships with collectors and enthusiasts in Britain opened the door to a deeper understanding of the tradition.
English Doubles
That passion ultimately became English Doubles — a company created to share that appreciation with an American audience.
History made tangible
through the makers.
The deeper the interest grew, the more the great London and Birmingham houses became part of the story — each with its own people, workshops, inventions and visual character. English Doubles now documents thirteen dedicated maker histories across that tradition.
Seven more histories.
One connected tradition.
Continue into the histories of W.W. Greener, John Rigby & Co., E.J. Churchill, Atkin, Grant & Lang, Charles Lancaster, Charles Boswell and W. & C. Scott.
Explore the Gunmaker Archive →
Craftsmanship you
can see and feel.
The appeal of an English double can often be understood before a word is spoken. Look closely and the difference reveals itself in the engraving, the fit of the action, the shaping of the walnut and the countless details touched by a craftsman’s hand.
These were not simply objects produced to serve a purpose. At their best, they represented generations of accumulated knowledge — combining function, balance, artistry and the individual character of the people who made them.
Preserving the character
of fine sporting guns.
English Doubles works with T.R. White & Sons as part of our broader commitment to thoughtful care, condition and preservation.
Their traditional gunmaking knowledge complements our respect for originality, craftsmanship and the individual history carried by each sporting gun.
Specific inspection, service or restoration history is identified only where it is documented.
Explore the Collection
A tradition carried
in every detail.
The character of British sporting gunmaking extends beyond the gun itself. Fitted cases, maker’s labels, tools and accessories all form part of the history that surrounds these remarkable pieces.
Together, these details help tell the story of where a gun came from, how it was cared for and the sporting tradition of which it became a part.
Sharing a tradition
worth preserving.
English Doubles grew from Tom’s desire to share the craftsmanship, history and character he discovered in British sporting guns with fellow enthusiasts in America.
The goal is to preserve an appreciation for the makers, craftsmen, traditions and stories behind these guns — and to help another generation understand why the English double continues to inspire such loyalty among sportsmen and collectors.
Read the English Doubles Journal →Craftsmanship
An appreciation for objects made with skill, patience and an extraordinary attention to detail.
Heritage
Respect for the makers, workshops and generations of tradition represented by Britain’s historic gun trade.
Community
A belief that the sporting life is made richer through the friendships, knowledge and traditions shared between enthusiasts.
British sporting heritage.
Shared in America.
What began as one outdoorsman’s appreciation for British craftsmanship has grown into English Doubles — a continuing exploration of the guns, makers and traditions that make the English sporting heritage so distinctive.
Explore British Gunmakers