doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Arrieta 2" 12 ga game Gun

no. there is no quail to be found at quail run, quail dr, covey pl.,.....no ruffed grouse to be found either. just too many cats, yotes, hawks, crows,..... for that. i bought 300 cartridges of 3" tungesten polymer and expect to have fine season this year on the marsh and beaver ponds.

A little historical perspective of the 2" 12 bore may help.
Developed by Frank Skimin in the early 20th century, it was touted as 'The 20th Century Gun' and developed as many things are, to spur sales and try something different such as the the Churchill rib. It was frequently purchased by women and children which is substantiated by the many 2" 12 bores that have short LOP or stock addition added. The A&F gun has a full length American LOP and does not suffer from a short LOP. Skimin was an entrepreneur and Frank Wiesman's father frequently was employed by Skimin, helping through the hard times. The Skimin & Wood factory was destroyed during the Blitz, records along with tooling as I believe that Skimin made many of the 2" actions and jobbed them out. Frank Wiesman eventually purchased the rights to the Skimin & Wood name. So a 2" 12 bore boxlock is not in the works regardless of what is found from other resources. The 2" 12 bore was not developed for quail but English shooting of the times. Judging the 2" 12 bore in that context does not make any sense. I don't shoot quail but would have no qualms about using the 2" and ammunition is not a problem and the cost of the ammunition is a small component of the total cost.
I don't recall any 20 or 28 bore doubles that are in the 2" 12 bore weight range so if an extremely light gun is wanted, there is only one. Certainly one can purchase a 20 or 28 gun in the 6# range, spend less on ammunition but so what? The sheer artistry of these guns is enough for many individuals.-Dick

I've owned several of the Arrieta 2" guns and they both weighed in at 5 pounds 14 ounces with 27" tubes. I have to say that both of them threw the best and most even patterns I've ever seen with 7/8 ounce loads and they were deadly on grouse. They were the only 12 gauge guns I've ever hunted grouse with and I can honestly say they didn't feel like a 12 in the grouse woods. May just be my imagination, but with the short shot string the grouse seemed to be hit harder than with my 20's or 28's. The balance was near perfect with those 27" barrels and skeet and IC chokes. Selling those guns was a very dumb move on my part, one of many I'm afraid!

I don't own an Arietta 2", and have never had a 2" gun, but I have a Dickson boxlock that weighs 5lb 14oz and an Jason Abbot SLE that weighs just shy of 6 lbs (stock has been bored out, I think). They are a pleasure to carry but thump you pretty good with 1 oz loads. Both guns are proofed for 2 3/4" shells. I've handled some 2" guns and they are nice, but I don't see much advantage to the light weight 12's I've mentioned above which IMO are more versatile.

Dick, Skimmin & Wood later owned the Tolley name and your Tolley would have been made by them. I have the identical gun. In fact most 2" guns you come across that have British names were made by Skimmin & Wood. Hollands did make a sidelock ejector called the Century as a 2" cahmbered gun. They are a fun addition to the collection and will pattern far better than a 7/8th. ounce load from most 20 bores. Lagopus.....

I hunt pheasants almost exclusively now with a 2.5 inch chambered, Lindner 12 bore FW. She weighs 5 pound nine.

I don't doubt your information but Skimin & Woods information was destroyed in the Blitz.
There is no way to verify who actually made your A&F 2". A&F records simply list Tolley as the manufacture.
Frank Wiesman when he was 84 and owned the Skimin & Wood brand personally told me this information in a delightful telephone call when I inquired whether he could make me a new 2" 12 gauge.
When I asked Frank about Skimin & Woods records, he replied with typical British understatement, "You know, we had a Blitz!"-Dick

I did pass on a lovely 2" Holland about 15 years ago. The price was $27K at the time and no negotiation.
I have since resigned my self to only having one proper 2" and went on to other light doubles.
The reason to acquire a proper 2" 12 gauge has nothing to do with shooting but more to do with gun making as an art. The mid 20th Century 2" 12 bore will not come this way again.

Here is one on the market right now, weighing 6lbs

2" Arrieta

I'm a huge fan of Spanish guns, but their versions of the 2-inch game gun don't work for me. Their frames are usually too big and they never weigh much less than 5lbs12. A "proper" 2-inch gun should be in the 5 1/2 pound range and built on a 20-frame. When this "proper" size and weight is struck, you have a truly marvelous thing for light-skinned game (i.e. ruffed grouse and quail). They are very specialized and perhaps, not appreciated by many, but for a gun needed to be carried all-day and shot without much warning, they are hard to beat. Dick_dup is absolutely correct; they are an art-form that will not likely come this way again.

I wonder how much an under six pound gun can be lightened by turning the stock like the Thomas Turner lightweights were done? Of course, my 4 3/4 pound Francotte 28 gauge will do anything the 2" 12 gauge will do and it is at least a half pound to a pound lighter. We had an Arrieta 2" gun for sale in a gun store where I worked, but I was a bit naive and didn't buy it. It was a wonderful gun.