Birmingham traditional guns maker Steve Horton from Hortons & Sons on the demise of his trade
- last year
One of Britain's last remaining gunmakers says he is made to feel like a criminal and banks place the historic trade into the same category as STRIP CLUBS.
Steve Horton, 44, runs Hortons & Sons, a traditional premium gunsmiths, which has been operating in Birmingham's famous Gun Quarter since 1751.
He is one of only two gunmakers remaining in the city and there are believed to be as few as 20 across Britain still plying their trade.
During its history Horton & Sons has supplied guns to Earls, Lords and members of the Royal Family - some of which still sit in the Sandringham Estate Gunroom.
But Steve has now revealed his struggles with keeping the 272-year-old business going in the modern age because many people consider him a criminal.
He also says banks often refuse to do deal with him as they see him as a risk to their reputation and class his trade in the same category as strip joints.
Steve believes his 'artisan craft' is often misunderstood and a huge stigma still surrounds his historic profession which he feels has become ''villainised'.
Steve Horton, 44, runs Hortons & Sons, a traditional premium gunsmiths, which has been operating in Birmingham's famous Gun Quarter since 1751.
He is one of only two gunmakers remaining in the city and there are believed to be as few as 20 across Britain still plying their trade.
During its history Horton & Sons has supplied guns to Earls, Lords and members of the Royal Family - some of which still sit in the Sandringham Estate Gunroom.
But Steve has now revealed his struggles with keeping the 272-year-old business going in the modern age because many people consider him a criminal.
He also says banks often refuse to do deal with him as they see him as a risk to their reputation and class his trade in the same category as strip joints.
Steve believes his 'artisan craft' is often misunderstood and a huge stigma still surrounds his historic profession which he feels has become ''villainised'.