The McMillan Trophy for Excellence in Gun Making

The McMillan Trophy is only awarded when work of outstanding quality has been presented by an apprentice Gunmaker to the Certification Panel and has passed peer review. The work is Judged by the standing Certification Panel and awarded at the Nomination Dinner.

The McMillan Trophy is a most prestigious award for excellence in Gunmaking. It is limited to those apprentices who have presented their work for Gunmakers Certification and been judged as exceptional. The trophy is not necessarily awarded annually, it is awarded solely on merit. 

Being awarded only when work is judged to be of outstanding quality, crafted from the finest skilled hands, the award recognises the outstanding skill of that individual gunmaker. It is a benchmark for others to aspire to.

The most recent recipient in 2024, was Louis Hart, a stocker from James Purdey & Sons. Louis originally joined Holland & Holland as an apprentice and moved to Purdey to be trained by Certification Panel member and Master Gunmaker stocker, Richard (Dicky) Bayley MAsR.G.

Louis demonstrated his knowledge, his passion, and a clear calm manner, when giving his explanation during the peer group review our the outstanding demonstration pieces presented to the panel. He proved to the panel beyond any doubt that he was an excellent choice for The McMillan Trophy for Excellence in Gunmaking.

Engravings by McMillan Trophy winner Saija Koskialho