With its new address at 1616 Stout Street, the shop is within walking distance of the Denver Performing Arts Center and Denver Convention Center and just around the corner from the 16th Street Mall. Owner Mark Reynolds has outdone himself on the store’s design, with retail space up front and a back room full of fine sporting arms.
Walking through the front door offers quite a “wow factor,” as one sees a gorgeous wooden wall displaying some of the finest travel and sporting bags. The store also boasts an expanded lineup of outdoor clothing, including items from Filson, Barbour, Beretta, Braeval and Wild Outdoors Apparel. A selection of vintage motorcycles brings to mind the style and adventure of Steve McQueen, adding to the retro-cool appeal of the countrysports clothing and gear.
Other offerings include fly-fishing gear, books and fine sporting art. Rodmakers such as G. Loomis, Hardy, Burkheimer and Tom Morgan are represented along with collectible vintage tackle.
The gunroom holds a treasure trove of delights, with many of the older guns having been acquired from auction houses in the UK. When I visited in June, there was a pair of 2" “Maharaja” Purdeys (since sold), several Holland & Hollands and a MacNaughton skeletal round-action. New guns include a broad sampling from AyA, Beretta, Grulla, B. Rizzini and Dakota.
Reynolds is best known for custom-model guns that he has developed with makers such as AyA. The Bournbrook, for example, is his idea of the perfect upland gun: built from AyA’s rounded No. 4 boxlock action, with a scaled receiver and a stock of select walnut. The engraving pattern is specific to the model, with 100-percent coverage on the coin-finish receiver.
Mark Reynolds is passionate about double guns, art and history, and to experience his store is to glimpse the blending of tradition and sport. If you are in Denver, you don’t want to miss it.
For more information, contact M.W. Reynolds, 303-761-0021.
—Scott Winston