Originally Posted By: Stan
Originally Posted By: Ted Schefelbein
I'm pretty sure I didn't say anything about not seeing English guns at gun shows-I pointed out I have seen a lot more broken, American project guns at gun shows, than broken English project guns at shows.
The English guns are there all right-they just function perfectly and are having full price asked for them. It is often evident that they have been used quite hard as well, and the owners still stand pretty firm on price. I also pointed out it was anecdotal, just what I have seen, in my corner of the world.

Best,
Ted


I believe one reason for this to be that the English had a far different perspective on the maintenance of doubles than did Americans. They would return their guns to the maker on a regular basis for maintenance and refurbishing. Americans, however, would not return guns to the maker unless it was to be modified or repaired ...........and only then when they felt they could not do the work themselves. Were the English "smarter"? Not necessarily. More a difference in the national spirit, I'd say. Americans have always been fiercely independent and in possession of a strong "I can do this" ethic. Why else would we(they) have believed we(they) could wage war on the greatest military power in the world and win independence? It has never fully changed, though much of today's society has forgotten it. I have a friend who sends his K80 to have it gone through completely each winter, after only about 3000-4000 rounds a year. His brother in law thinks he is a fool. Those are the two differing attitudes I am talking about.

The result? Rough used American guns that were attempted to be fixed by their owners who, because of independent spirits or, difficulty and cost involved in getting it back to the maker, didn't return them to the maker. They are bound to be in worse condition after a life like that. Would an English gun of the same quality have fared any better with that type of treatment? I think not. So, the results of both "lifestyles" shows up at the gun shows today. I think it is no accident that the finer examples of surviving American guns are the higher grades which were owned by men of means, who were more financially able to pamper them and have them properly maintained.

JMO, SRH


Excellent points, Stan. Owners of Brit guns in this country are also more likely to take care of what they bought because they are also more likely to properly maintain something that cost 3X (or more) the price of a basic American classic 12ga field gun. And since the growth in popularity of British shotguns on this side of the pond, we writers have given good publicity to those gunsmiths who know what they're doing when they get their hands on a Brit gun. And they're more likely to be "specialists" rather than generalists. Your average American gunsmith is likely to deal with at least as many rifles and handguns as he does shotguns . . . and, relatively speaking, darned few side by sides compared to OU's, autos, and pumps. They might admire your Fox or Elsie, but it might also be the 2nd one they've worked on in the last 5 years. But if you only pay a few hundred $ for a double, how likely are you to track down one of the doublegun specialists, who probably doesn't live anywhere near you and may very well tell you you're going to get your gun back in 6 months minimum? While the local guy says he can fix it in a week or two for a lot less money. And maybe he can, and maybe it will be fixed right. Or maybe not.

I know a couple gunsmiths who, between them, might have a dozen British "project" guns. You won't see them for sale as is. You'll see them for sale after the work has been done. And probably for a fair price . . . although that price is likely to be a good bit more than an American classic field grade 12ga.