I've been looking at some of the guns on this website. I am very fond of the boxlock game guns. Has anyone here purchased from them? The guns on the site seem to be in exceptionally fine condition. Are they what they seem, or creative lighting and photography? There are a couple that I am seriously thinking about. Bozeman is 2000 miles from my home. A trip to see the items in person would eat into my bird hunting time this fall. I would appreciate any opinions on the quality of the shotguns this company has for sale. Does the company stand behind the shotguns they sell. The prices seem reasonable, or am I just uninformed?

Thanks in advance for any help
Bill

If there's a gun in particular you're thinking about buying I'm sure these guys could help you out.

I visited when Mr. Hill still owned it. He was straight-up for all I could tell and all I heard (I have a friend in Bozeman). The guns I saw were well described and prices were generally very fair.

I can't personally comment on the current owner, (which certainly does not imply anything negative). However, I'd expect that if and when a business like Hill were to "slip" after a sale, we'd read about it here. Hopefully someone can give you a recent experience.

Bill He is located up stairs in the old Hotel. Third floor. I quite going in when in Bozeman, for all he does is take my check. Found both he and his guns to be typical Montana, and gunine. His guns are mostly britt, I bought Parkers and Ithacas. It was a good experence. David Lien

We deal with Charlie regularly as he does outstanding wood work and case repair. We have the highest regard for him and could not recommend him more highly.

Jim Kilday
Managing Partner
Westley Richards USA

I bought a gun from Charlie for $800 awhile back and the communication and treatment i got from him you would have thought I was spending ten times that....

Good solid outfit. Good guns for the money. He's got a nice older Sauer 12 ga box lock that looks like a good buy.

Have never bought from Charlie, but visited his place last summer. Guns were accurately described, and I would not hesitate to buy from him.

It was my good fortune to visit Charlie last June, courtesy of a visit arranged by Darrel Hallquist. A nicer gentleman it would be hard to find. He had a wonderful collection of guns that I could only marvel at, and he seems very knowledgable. AAA+

I have bought three guns from Charlie - he is straight up and trustworthy.

Mike

I bought a gun from Charlie and it was a very good experience. I wouldn't hestitate to do it again. Rich

I noticed that also, photos can be deceiving.

Charlie has kept up the fine tradition that Duncan started at Hill Rod & Gun: fair, honest and competent. I've bought guns from both and been tickled with every transaction!

From the photos several guns I looked at appear to be re-finished to different degrees. Stocks, actions cleaned, barrels re-blued I'm not saying anything's wrong with that.

As to the quality of the work I guess you'll have to find out, I'm sure they have a 3 day inspection ?
Even if you are qualified to inspect the gun...a second or even a third opinion won't hurt.

How could you say there's anything wrong with that j0e!
Most of Charlie's guns are English, and thats the way they did it. Kept refreshed and up-to-snuff.

The company has just received 10, count 'em, TEN positive comments and ZERO negative reports from people who have ACTUALLY dealt with them. Further observations about photo's being possibly misleading seem unwarranted.

My comments were not about photos being misleading intentionally.

I made the same observations about the photos that the original poster did.
I've been watching the site for several years...just never saw nothing that tripped my trigger if I do I hope to have a pleasant experience with them.

Thanks to everyone that replied to this post. I was not implying I thought there was an intentional effort to mislead with the pictures. On the contrary, if there was an effort to mislead, how could every gun be photograped from the left side? Odds are, with this many guns, not all damage would be on the right side. I actually thought most of the guns looked too good.
If the gun has been cleaned and some refinishing done by someone who knows what they are doing, that is a non issue to me. As long as the item is not portayed as original. I have looked at so much polished junk while searching for american made oldies that I am a little wary. Ten positives from the people on this site goes a long way in easing my mind.

Bill

I think you will find that Charlie offers a 5 day SHOOTING inspection.

Duncan set a high standard and Charlie has upheld it. I have never bought a gun from Charlie but he did sell one on consignment for me and I believe the buyer and I were both happy with his service. I have family in Bozeman and have visited with Charlie several times. I see Jim Kilday has high regard for him and that would be enough for me if I didn't know Charlie.

In short you will not go wrong with Hill Rod & Gun.

My favorite story about Duncan was when I ran into him at the Vegas show and I took a look at a double rifle he had just purchased. I turned around and he was gone. I had to track him down to give him his rifle back.......

I for one never thought you were.

Lowell made the comment initially, but it bears repeating: If you're not familiar with British guns and the British gun trade, reblacking the barrels, honing the bores if necessary (so long as they stay within proof standards), redoing the wood--that's the way they do it. The Brits, for better or worse depending on how you look at it, do not have the same "original condition" hangup that afflicts many American collectors. Doesn't make any difference if it's a Purdey or a gamekeeper's Brummie BLNE. If something needed doing, the owner didn't worry about "original condition". What he worried about was whether his gun was properly maintained.

I've purchased two doubles from HR&G, both while Duncan Hill was still the owner. One was a Thomas Turner 12 gauge BLE with damascus barrels that serves as my grouse and preserve pheasant gun. The other was a German double rifle in .250-3000 that serves as my deer rifle. Both were actually better than described. Both passed inspection by Alfred Gallifant. I'd do business again with HR&G in a heartbeat.