With all the problems and issues reported concerning the RBL on this and several other sites it's amazing there is anyone other than a member of The RBL Apologists Club that would seriously put in them in the same league as a Parker Reproduction. The only reason I can come up with is that they are currently selling in the same price bracket...the RBL is a $3500 gun selling for $3500, the Parker Repro is a $10,000 gun selling for $4000. The RBL is a Japanese design built by an American company produced at a price point many can afford, the Parker Repro is an American design contracted out by an American company built in Japan to be able to be produced at a price point that many can afford. Now I don't hate RBL's--I have a friend who has a 28-ga. RBL, 30" bbls. DT, SG, SF with exhibition wood that's very nice--but it's not up to the same build quality of a Parker Repro.
Let's see...in the relatively brief history of the RBL several problems and issues have been reported:
* Single trigger guns doubling.
* Selective single trigger not functioning properly.
* Double trigger guns triggers not functioning properly.
* Finish peeling off.
* Ribs coming loose.
* Cheezy and poorly executed engraving.
* Proud wood.
* Poor wood to metal fit.
* Muddy case coloring.
* Burnt checkering.
* Poor checkering.
* Overly thick wrists.
* Bulbous trigger guards.
* Nose of the comb too far back--makes for a funky profile.
* 7 lb.+ 16-ga. guns.
* Ventilated rib design.
* Beavertail forend design.
* Poor handling dynamics of 16 and 12-ga. guns.
...and the list keeps growing.
Come on people---get real!
