F. E. Malin, Gunmaker, Melbourne Ontario

[Londonshooter]

Quote Originally Posted by Ashcroft View Post
Here is one that will surprise many. A Frank Malin 12 gauge best boxlock, made in Melbourne Ontario ( near London of course). Malin brought in a team of talented gunmakers from Britain and produced best quality only guns made to order, mostly sidelocks. They were in business in Ontario for less than five years in the late 70’s, early 80’s and produced less than 200 guns in total before going bankrupt, moving to the US where they produced a few more before fading away. A very controversial individual, Malin’s best guns were BEST guns and will stand proudly with any competitors.
Made in 1980, this gun is one of very few Malin boxlocks. Leather cased with original en suite engraved accessories I consider this to be a Canadian masterpiece. Engraved by Ron Collings with his own one of a kind design, Mr Collings moved south and had a famed career in the US and is now retired in California.

I came across some brochures and other details from the estate of one of the employees. I will post some scans in due course as I make my way through the material, but if any of you have pics to share or other information it would be great to see them. Ashcroft, maybe you will re-post your photos? I did not want to take the engraving thread on a tangent so starting a new Malin-specific thread.

 

[sillymike]

 

[Ashcroft]

Quote Originally Posted by Ashcroft View Post
Here is one that will surprise many. A Frank Malin 12 gauge best boxlock, made in Melbourne Ontario ( near London of course). Malin brought in a team of talented gunmakers from Britain and produced best quality only guns made to order, mostly sidelocks. They were in business in Ontario for less than five years in the late 70’s, early 80’s and produced less than 200 guns in total before going bankrupt, moving to the US where they produced a few more before fading away. A very controversial individual, Malin’s best guns were BEST guns and will stand proudly with any competitors.
Made in 1980, this gun is one of very few Malin boxlocks. Leather cased with original en suite engraved accessories I consider this to be a Canadian masterpiece. Engraved by Ron Collings with his own one of a kind design, Mr Collings moved south and had a famed career in the US and is now retired in California.

I came across some brochures and other details from the estate of one of the employees. I will post some scans in due course as I make my way through the material, but if any of you have pics to share or other information it would be great to see them. Ashcroft, maybe you will re-post your photos? I did not want to take the engraving thread on a tangent so starting a new Malin-specific thread.

Can do. J.

 

[Londonshooter]

This photo taken at the Melbourne gunshop in 1982. From left to right:
Tony Tomlinson - action shaper
Peter Cook - engraver
Frank Malin - owner
David Catchpole - stocker
Ron Collings - engraver

Not present in photo were:
Simon Lyton - engraver
Gary Hibbot - action shaper
Nick Makinson - barrel maker
Arthur Troth - stocker and case hardener
Darel Malin - apprentice

 

[Londonshooter]

 

[Ashcroft]

Thanks so much Londonshooter, I haven’t seen any of this material before. The photo is from the London Ont. shop, apparently the price list dates from the mid 80’s after Malin lost his fraud case, left Canada and moved to the US. Here are pictures from the brochures that I have from their time in London.

 

[Londonshooter]

These scans are from a large glossy brochure. The double-page photos were too big for my scanner but here is the essence of the thing.

 

[Westward1]

A very interesting post. I have never heard of the company. Unfortunate it did not work out. But not surprising.

 

[m1008]

https://www.grayssportingjournal.com/the-malin-hoax-revisited/

 

[Ashcroft]

So who was Frank Malin and why should we be interested in the guns he produced? Well I’ve been slowly unravelling this story in bits and pieces for a long time and like Pinfire’s ongoing research on pinfire guns the going is slow, in fits and stops and still far from complete. Briefly…..
Frank E. Malin was a time served gunmaker who served his apprenticeship in the 1960’s or early 1970’s with the largest gunmaker in England at the time, Webley And Scott. Times were very tough for all English gunmakers; old, respected and well established firms were merging, consolidating and going out of business left and right. Frank had a brother with a sporting goods shop in Melbourne Ont. and so he emigrated there and worked as an in house gunsmith for his brother for a few years. As his abilities became known and his fame spread ( no doubt spurred on by Frank himself, a superb salesman) he decided to start his own bespoke gunmaking enterprise in his new home, staffed by many talented gunmakers that he knew in England and convinced to join him. This he was able to do with partial financial backing from a few wealthy and influential patrons, starting in 1979.
The goal? To make BEST GUNS only, custom traditionally handmade British style classic game guns, equal to the finest available but at a more favourable price, intended for the discriminating North American sportsman. And he succeeded, to a point. The guns were indeed everything promised and the prices far below that of the few remaining British makers capable of producing similar finest quality bespoke guns but inevitably his sales outstripped his very limited output capabilities and within a couple of years he was in difficulty, financially, contractually and reputationally. On paper he was making lots of sales, taking orders, making stunning guns. But not enough guns. He quickly got farther and farther behind, taking orders with deposits but unable to deliver within a reasonable time frame. This in turn led to some poor decisions which led to escalating problems. In an effort to boost production he purchased the business and name of Charles Boswell and opened a second shop in London Ont. and brought in more staff. Then the inevitable shortcuts started and some in the white unfinished barrelled actions were allegedly sourced from Spain and Italy instead of England for local finishing and quality started to slide. After only about three years in business Frank was charged with several offenses, the one conviction being for fraud relating to deposits for undelivered guns. He also faced angry workmen clamouring for back wages and lawsuits from several sources. Frank went bankrupt, moved to the US where he tried again and unsuccessful again he finally gave up the gun business altogether and ended his days as a tattoo artist!
But oh, the guns! Not very many in total, maybe about 100, maybe less, certainly less than 200, all of the very finest quality. As an example of what they produced, a 16 gauge SxS sidelock was one of the accepted gifts to then Prince Charles on the occasion of his wedding to Diana, made to his measure of course. It remains in the royal collection. Probably the foremost authority on these guns today, Roy Smith ( Roy Hebbes), a friend and hunting companion of the late author and English gun authority Geoffrey Boothroyd knew Malin well and was an early customer and he considers these guns to be among the finest doubles ever made, a true Canadian treasure. Most of these guns were sold initially into the US but we’ve managed to hold onto a few Here in Canada. I looked for a Malin gun for over 10 years before latching onto mine last year. Found a few in the US over the years, three in Canada, only one of which I was able to handle. I may never actually see another, although Cowtown Bill on here had ( and sold ) one a few years ago.
Pictures of my gun coming in another installment.

 

[Cow Town Bill]

Years ago I purchased a pair of 20 gauge over unders by Boswell (Malin) from the estate of a Calgarian sportsman. The guns have found a new owner but I still have fond memories of the guns. They were very well made but had no proof marks.
At the time I had to register the guns with Miramichi and I was told they were the only Boswells in Canada.
Please post any info you have, John, on Boswell over unders.

 

[Londonshooter]

Sorry, Bill. No help with info on Boswell-Malin o/u's. I will scan and post a price list and cover letter from the subsequent owner of the Boswell name from 1988. The company was based in Charlotte, NC. Interestingly, the letter states that along with the acquisition of the company came an existing stock inventory of 40 "fine English shotguns" offered for immediate delivery. The catalogue does not list any over and unders but includes double rifles, both boxlock and sidelock. Shooting instuctor Chris Batha purchased the rights to the Charles Boswell name in 2004 and they do (or did?) produce half a dozen o/u guns a year.

 

[Ashcroft]

My Frank Malin gun, #B 8001, 12 gauge 2 3/4” with 26” barrels, a popular length in the 60’s - 80’s. In discussing this gun with Roy Smith who was a friend of Frank Malin, customer and frequent visitor to his shop he thinks that he has seen this gun before. He believes that this gun was Malin’s personal gun and used for promotions at shows as well as advertising, he’s also quite sure that he was earlier shown this gun in unfinished state, in the white during a visit to the Webley and Scott factory where he was told of it’s Canadian destination. He believes this is likely the very first gun with the Malin name and address and the serial number, B 8001 relates to Boxlock, gun #1 in 1980. It was engraved by Ron Collings in his own personal designs. Mr. Collings moved to the US when Malin went bankrupt in Canada and became one of the foremost engravers in the US. He’s retired now, living in California. Now some pictures……..

 

[Ashcroft]

More pictures of Frank Malin gun B 8001. Note the conventional Birmingham proof marks, the date code, EB in the small circle, is for 1979. This is one of only two Frank Malin boxlock guns that I have been able to find pictures of so far. The quality of this gun in all respects equals that of my Best Quality Westley Richards boxlock guns from different eras. There are many different techniques and styles of engraving tastefully combined on this piece, Mr Collings was a master of them all. If you expand the photo of the side of the action to enlarge the engraving you will be surprised at the detail. Have I shot it? Of course. Is it for sale? No.

 

[Ashcroft]

Malin gun B 8001 final instalment. I will likely have this gun at the Chilliwack gun show in March and the Kamloops gun show in April, for display only.

 

[sillymike]

Have I shot it? Of course. Is it for sale? No.

Very (very) nice! I just love shorter SxS. Thanks for sharing.
- How much does it weight?

 

[Bluebulldog]

I love the print and layout style in the old catalogue / brochure. Very indicative of the 1980s / 1990s, as well, looks very much like ( probably intentionally) the same as the Double Gun Journal.

 

[Ashcroft]

Very (very) nice! I just love shorter SxS. Thanks for sharing.
- How much does it weight?

It weighs 6 lb, 9 1/2 oz on my digital scale and balances dead centre on the hinge pin. It handles like pointing your finger, to me the balance is impeccable. The fit, while not perfect for me, is close enough that I can shoot it effectively.

 

[Stephen Nash]

Wonderful gun, and photos!

 

[Londonshooter]

From 1982 when the future was bright. I'm sure these could be stitched together seamlessly by your favourite audiovisual dept. technician but I'm not that guy. Pretend you're looking over someone's shoulder.