doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com What would it cost?

My first doublegun purchase was a L.C. Smith 3-E, SST 28" bbl. fw. At $1850 I had to justify this purchase by asking myself what it would cost to build this gun today. I am still asking. What would it cost to have a field grade double hand made to the quality of any of the early american manufacturers circa 1890-1915?

Peter,
Given the relatively low market for doubles, sxs guns especially, and consequent low production volume, the cost of production would be relatively high. But, as the the "hand made quality" of an early American field gun, I'd think it'd be easy to beat the quality with all machine made parts, given a little effort. This was Tony Galazan's goal with the RBL. But, I for one, don't think all that highly of the quality of the field grade American guns I've disassembled. Functional, they were.

So, I'll stick my neck out and take a stab at it. About $2900 for a basic model, $2600 if you pay in advance.

For the quality of the 3E, I would put the cost higher.

Nice going, Chuck. Sounds right to me. If I saw an elegant 20ga field grade as you described it would be worth that to me because that's where it fits in my pantheon of guns.