'Gannochy’ Rapid Load Cartridge Dispenser

The 'Gannochy' takes its name from the Scottish estate just north west of Montrose, once famed for having one of the finest grouse moors in Scotland.

Designed to be worn by a loader, slung over their neck and resting on the chest, it was renowned to be the fastest-loading device on the market at the time. It can also be worn slung over the shoulder so it rests comfortably on the hip.

The drop-down lid opens to reveal a Mackintosh fabric inner rain-flap that can be rolled up, out of the way. The interior presents 100 cartridges all facing the right way, base outward, with just sufficient room between them to take two at a time and load the empty gun.

The interior of the case has an aluminium square-frame supporting ten rows of ten steel spring-clips to hold the cartridges. To enable their swift removal,, the frame provides for every other row of cartridges to stand proud of the adjacent rows. In their 1905 patent (No. 17825), J. McArthur and W. Prain acknowledged that the idea of arranging cartridges at different levels stemmed from F. Vetterli's British Patent No. 4808 of 1881.

Mr. McArthur was the head keeper on the Gannochy estate and the 'Gannochy’ Rapid Load Cartridge Dispenser was 'Made and Sold only by W. Prain, Saddler, 18 High Street, Montrose'.

This splendid example has tooled decoration to the leather exterior, original makers label and holds one hundred 12-bore cartridges. The canvas webbing of the strap is a newly made copy of the original.

Dimensions: 26.5 cm/10½ inches (width) x 24 cm/9½ inches (length).