Anyone have opinions on the Orvis Uplander guns? I'm looking at a LNIB that is made by Arrieta and has almost a "funeral" type look to it. 29" barrels, 12 gauge, DT, straight stock, but had Briley thinwalls installed (might be a good thing for non-toxic shot).
I have one in 20ga with 28" bbls and open choked for Grouse/Woodock. Great gun, excellent handling qualities and very well made.
The asking price is key...if it's appropriately priced I wouldn't hesitate, Arrieta's are among the higher end Spanish guns, they do the Holland and Holland style sidelock quite well.
Arrieta makes nice guns no matter which importer puts their name on them. All top quality but to me the Briley chokes would detract from it's value. You still have the potential of steel shot bridging that will damage them, they are very thin walled after all, and all this business of changing chokes is silly anyway.
nial
I had one in 16ga. Because they're essentially unengraved, they often sell for an attractively low price compared to other Arrietas.
A funeral looking 29" 12 gauge with Brileys well installed would seem to be a very coveted gun. What is the asking price compared to what Orvis charged for it?
they are asking $3900 for it but I think a new Uplander is $4500 if I recall correctly (if this is wrong, please correct me). The DAC is a bit low for my liking, at 1 6/8. I usually need a DAC of no more than 1 3/8", so to configure the stock the way I like it will require extra costs, which would negate any savings
Orvis' gunroom has several used Uplanders for sale in the $3300-3500 range, and a new .410 for $5k. (They also have a fancy gold trimmed funeral engraving version for $6495 if that is your thing).
I have an Orvis round body (Arrieta Model 871) 16 gauge that I bought used from Jaquas for a very attractive price. It is a definite keeper - a classic, well-balanced upland game gun with great fit and finish.
My sense is that the Orvis Arrieta guns trade for less than the corresponding Arrieta-branded models for some reason - and therefore can be a good way to get an Arrieta at a great price.
Arrieta makes fantastic sidelocks, regardless of who imports them. You have nothing to worry about in the quality department. But I would find another one for the price being asked. Like Doverham said, Orvis has a couple used ones for less.
Here's a nice upland model w/ 27" bbls. $3300
http://www.orvis.com/intro.aspx?dir_id=1089&group_id=25577&cat_id=15480&subject=8062This one would be ideal for clays, dove, or waterfowl with its 30" bbls, rounded Prince-of-Wales grip, and semi-beavertail forend. It's also $3300
http://www.orvis.com/intro.aspx?dir_id=1089&group_id=25577&cat_id=15480&subject=7951Adam
the second gun, with the 30" barrels, is nice, but choked at IC/IC, I don't see much versatility, especially for sporting clays (I normally shoot M/IM).
Please keep in mind that the Orvis "Uplander" has had many, many iterations. The Uplanders range in price from $600 all the way up to perhaps $8000.
To my knowledge, these are some of the makers that have created Orvis "Uplanders", ironically, some of them were boxlocks, some sidelocks, some O/U, and some SxS.
Caesar Guerini (Current)
Beretta 686
Zoli
Union Armera / Grulla
Arrieta
Webley and Scott
***Others pre-1960?
A funeral engraved Arrieta Orvis Uplander with Briley Chokes (likely installed through Orvis) sells at retail in New England in 98% condition for about $2500-$3200. Orvis has them frequently for the high end of that range. Some of the Arrieta uplanders were simple case colored or funeral engraved, whereas others had a reasonable amount of rose & scroll on the locks.
Adding to confusion, many of the different maker's "Orvis Uplanders" would then have a 3" chamber and would be further marked "Waterfowler" somewhere on the gun. (even if choked IC/M and clearly not a waterfowler's gun)