By about WW1, there were no makers in America building guns that compared to the best stuff coming out of London (or out of Birmingham). If anyone came close, it was Lefever.
Were any American makers at that time capable of doing it? Who knows? They didn't do it.
I've handled two of the Parker Invincibles, plus some A-1 Specials and other top American stuff. Some were good, but nice, original Bosses, Purdeys and Woodwards are better.
Notice that Thomas says the Dickson "... yields nothing.." He doesn't say it exceeds. And he is referring to "...thoroughbred lines..."
Burrard liked Dicksons, too. He thought they were strong and beautifully made, but he also said "I do not see it (the round action design) is any better than a bar action sidelock, but it is certainly as good."
Darnes? Come on. I've handles those fancy ones and owned lesser ones. They were all PITA. A mediocre design is always mediocre, regardless of how fancy looking the gun is. Quirky doesn't equal quality.
DMBs are the most overrated guns made today. So incredibly underwhelming (other than in their ads). I'd rather own a Perazzi.
And the Italian-made Purdeys are not Best guns. They're just overpriced OUs for people desperate to own something that says Purdey on it. Again, a Perazzi is a better.
OWD
Good lord, this is priceless, on so many levels...
So, you, of the "Dogs and Doubles" site (who had to be told, right here, that a boxlock could have intercepting sears, but, I digress) do tell us of the "Fancy" Darnes you have handled.
Did you get to handle the foursome that were built for the prince in Saudi Arabia? I'm guessing, no. How 'bout the pair that went to the oil barron in Russia? No? Because THOSE are the only "Fancy" Darnes I've ever handled. Six of them.
None destined for the US market.
I've never handled a "Fancy" Darne (you have a way with gun terminology, I do have to say) here in the US. Nada, never, zip. The only one that came close was Wes GIlpin's personel R17 slug gun, with folding sight on the quarter rib, detachable claw scope mount, and improved cylinder and modified chokes for use on sea ducks. Wes asked for, and paid for, and got a gun he could shoot ducks with in the morning, and hunt javelina and deer with slugs out to 100 yards with in the evening, and it takes a fair amount of best level skill to pull off a gun that can do that. What grade were the "Fancy" Darnes you handled? What era? What importer? Where were they? Did you take notes on the finishing differences between, say, a James Wayne era V19, and a mid 1990s Bruchet Hors Serie series gun, maybe one in the "Fond Crux" style of engraving? Have you ever used a Darne double rifle?
Maybe, those points matter when you are talking about a gun design that is as different as a Darne, and you are talking about best guns. Maybe, you really don't know what you are speaking of. Maybe, all you have ever handled are production Darne guns, fitted to someone else. Might that have something to do with why you are incompetent with the Darne sliding breech design? Don't you tell your dear readers on your site that if they can't get their grouse and woodcock with a 28 gauge Red Label, there is something wrong with them, not the tool?
What is wrong with you that a Darne is a PITA?
I suppose reminding you of the problems Ruger suffered with barrel regulation, shortly before they pulled the plug on all the doubles, wouldn't convince you otherwise, either. Nope, just go out and get them grousies with that Ruger.
Continuing, because a Darne is a PITA for you, it couldn't be a best? Really? Who elected you arbiter of good taste and gun design? You act as if handling a few US spec V grades and owning a beater R makes you an expert on what a company that has been in business for 140 years, give or take, was capable of during that entire time. Perhaps you should go back and review what Gough Thomas had to say about the Darne. Perhaps "Quirky" to you is irrelevent when one looks back to the era of live pigeon shooting in Europe and sees the wins at Monte Carlo, Vichy, Lisbon and Moscow where shooters using Darnes placed first and second, and the contests in Algiers, Milan, and Sao Paulo where they placed first.
At one time, the "Quirky" design held a record for most wins at live pigeon shooting, in Europe.
Is a run-of-the-mill Darne found, used, here in the states, always going to be a best? Never, but, that doesn't mean various owners of the company couldn't pull off best workmanship, and supply best materials, when a customer came along who could demand, and, pay for it. If you subscribe to the silly notions on what constitutes a best that Kyrie kindly posted, go further back, and see what Toby had to say. You may find it eye opening.
Darne lesson over.
I'd rather have a Fabbri then a Perazzi. I'd rather have a Fabbri than a Purdey, too. If someone wants to sponsor me, I'll even take one with Phoenix barrels.
If you were honest, you'd tell us that you prefer the Fabbri, also.
Italian gun lesson over.
Best,
Ted
