Paradox: The Story of Col GV Fosbery, Holland & Holland, and the Paradox, Volume 1
Paradox: The Story of Col GV Fosbery, Holland & Holland and the Paradox is a new, privately published 191-page book, providing an indepth, long-term study of the remarkable Paradox gun and its equally remarkable inventor, George Fosbery. Fosbery had the unique distinction of winning the Victoria Cross armed with a weapon of his own invention, while his part-rifled gun effectively doubled the accurate range of the ball and shot gun.
Both authors, David Baker and Roger Lake, have contributed their own sections to this book, which also contains plenty of color and black and white photography on the subject.
David Baker’s section concerns George Fosbery and his life story. While researching this, the Fosbery family was traced, yielding biographical information and previously unpublished photographs. Fosbery’s service record with the Honourable East India Company produced yet more insights, as did the Journal of the Royal United Services Institute, where Fosbery gave a series of lectures. These discourses are combined with Fosbery’s 26 patents, including a rifle that did well in the trials of 1867, the famous ‘Automatic Revolver’, contemporary accounts and his involvement with the Montigny mitrailleuse volley gun.
Roger Lake has had privileged access to the records at Holland & Holland and thus has been able to unravel the complex evolution of their Paradox gun from its original black powder form to the later nitro versions. He traces the evolution through its introduction and ensuing controversy, on to the production history, and covers the various models (Magnum, Long Range and Nitro Express) and bores (8 to 28). In addition, there are biographies of owners and narratives of hunters’ experiences with the Paradox and the use of the Paradox and the Aero Gun in World War I.
Paradox is available from various book dealers and gunshops around Australia for around $95.
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