My English (and some Scottish, truth be told) stuff needed a frustrating amount of good quality gunsmithing to keep it running. It wasn't because it was poorly designed, or, of poor quality. I think it was just old. It all had a lot of use before it was mine, and the Piper came calling, more often than not, on my watch. I wouldn't have dared use it for serious clays work, at least not after my outlays taught me not to. One Holland, several MacNaughtons, several Powels. There wasn't an ugly gun in the bunch, but, beauty is much more appreciated when the damn thing works. I can't run with seven figure guys (I don't have seven figures in pennies, let alone dollars) so that might be it. I learned a lot along the way, and my high dollar guns all belong to someone else now, with just a few, well fitted (to me) lower end examples to keep me happy, and those are treated to only very occasional use, in better than good conditions. I'm not eager to buy replacements, or any more good gunsmithing.
If they make guys like JT Amber, or, for that matter, Hemingway anymore, I haven't met them. I did meet Zutz, and he was a heck of a nice individual. These days, that might be all you should hope for.
Best,
Ted
