There are a number of older, and complete,photocopies of all the diaries in the UK but the owners, for reasons best known to themselves, are very reluctant to let anybody even look at them, never mind copy them.

Sir Ralph Payne-Gallwey’s gun was also of 1½in bore but it was double barrelled and 9ft long. It had one trigger that was selective — either right, left or both barrels could be chosen. Like Hawker’s gun, when both barrels were fired, there was a slight delay between detonation, allowing for the birds to rise into the second charge. Some few years ago I had the priviledge of cleaning Hawkers double gun. I suspect that one of the reasons he sold it to Mr. Birch - Reynardson as he grew older was the sheer weight of the bloody thing. It takes three people to lift it without risk of a hernia!

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There are various pictures of some of Hawker's guns in books published over the years. For a time some were in the W Keith Neal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Keith_Neal Regular encounters on the marshes with other shooters, including what were described variously as 'swarms of gunners' and 'gangs of shore shooters', illustrate just how much pressure the wildlife faced. Indeed, it's a wonder anything at all survived. He also records, though, details of local people following behind the gunners in the hope of retrieving dead or dying birds, presumably for the pot - times then were certainly tough for the poorer members of society. In later life Hawker designed a "military musket" and commissioned the manufacture of several prototypes at his own expense. Hawker's musket was favourably received by the Board of Ordnance, but it was not adopted, being set aside in preference to the Enfield Rifle-Musket, although elements of Hawker's design were incorporated into the final version of the Enfield. [12] Family life [ edit ] Instructions to young sportsmen in all that relates to guns and shooting, Colonel Peter Hawker, 1910. [5] Elizabeth Lee, rev. Megan A. Stephan. "Hawker, Mary Elizabeth (1848–1908)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (onlineed.). Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/ref:odnb/33768. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

The Diary of Colonel Peter Hawker, Author of 'Instructions to Young Sportsmen', 1802-1853, Vol. 2 of 2: With an Introduction (Classic Reprint) [Soft Cover ] If its the Durs Egg double punt gun that you are interested in there are a couple of images of it on Google, they are faded and not very good quality, but may give you a lead. And just as awful, albeit on a smaller scale, on December 14th, 1829 he notes:' .... all I fired at was (one barrel) at 4 curlews, all of which came into the larder. This shot, although at mere rubbish, was a satisfactory beginning'.In later life Hawker designed a "military musket" and commissioned the manufacture of several prototypes at his own expense. Hawker's musket was favourably received by the Board of Ordnance but was not adopted, being set aside in preference to the Enfield Rifle-Musket, although elements of Hawker's design were incorporated into the final version of the Enfield. [14] Family life [ ] Specification of the Patent granted to Peter Hawker, of Long-Parish House, near Andover, in the County of. Hants, Major in the Army; for a Machine, Instrument, or Apparatus to assist in the Attainment of proper Performance on the Piano-Forte, or other keyed Instruments. Dated November 1, 1820

An image from Hawker's diary captioned 'Return to Keyhaven after a day's gunning, in the winter of 1838'. (The Gun Inn and Hawker's Cottage, externally little changed to this day, can be seen in the centre of the picture).Yes, he`s very much still researching although he keeps it all very close to his chest and is very reluctant to share any information whatsoever, which is very frustrating. Myself and a coleague have put lots of information and connections his way, but it seems to be very much a one way street.