I have a beautiful Japanese SxS - pre-war - manufacture is unknown, but it looks like a Kasuga. It's very high quality with a finely fitted action, smooth triggers, smooth rear safety with gold inlay, finely engraved action with pheasants. Nice stock and forend. It's only flaw - 19 3/4" barrels! Everytime I pick it up I think "what a shame - such a beautiful gun" I just imagine it was a Yakuza gun - some mobster wanted a nice SxS he could fit inside his trench coat - what a shame to ruin such a beautiful gun.
I agree with many of the comments on the importance of shooting the guns. I bought a very worn out Belmont Interchangeable SxS with the hope of making is shootable again. The cost to do so will never be wise, but I think it's joyful to return a vintage double to the shooting world once again. It may end up a wall hanger - depending on the barrels - damascus, but maybe I can get inserts for it to make it shootable.
