doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com WATSON SIDE LOCK

Is it the that the pictures are too close or is something wrong with the finish? I.e. Someone cleaned it with steel wool?

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With vintage English double shotguns it is different or difficult. To be worth a lot Ole' Betsy has to be in proof, have right name on barrel rib and or side of action, large "Ghostie Spirit", plus be from company with old ledgers full of well known clients. The facts that gun is high grade and from maker with London address are not enough. As an Englishman way say the struggle is the glory. Quite remarkably member of this forum has workable formula giving us pretty good estimates on value of old English shotguns.

Asking and getting are not the same. Seller does give good details in his limited description. Might want to explain the 2 3/4" chambers on a gun proofed for 2 1/2". I am afraid a lot of good guns have been taken out of proof just to satisfy our "need" for shooting easier to find ammo. Not so much now days as in the past. Shame, that alone tells me it is out of proof and needs in person evaluation before any bid, at any amount, should be made.

you guys are missing the point here...the watson is only a typical example of an extraordinarily high priced english side lock gon...weather the name on the gun is watson, lang, hussey, etc...where is the value in any of them...compare english made guns with continental made guns, which often are valued at half or less of their english made counterpart...are the english guns twice as good? and if so, zacky how?

Ed, go handle some English guns, then handle the continental guns. Then, you might be able to tell. For example, handle a Holland and Holland Royal Deluxe, then handle a Spanish gun. It takes some practice and experience to appreciate quality, but you might be able perceive a difference. There is a reason English best guns are expensive and better and it's called QUALITY.

buzz: have handled quite a few european made guns over the last thirty or so years...most are relatively light weight and well balanced...regardless of where made.

and to compare a specific brand english made gun to spanish guns in general is not helpful to answering the question...

can you define the qualities that cause a gun to be valued at say, $7500 vs another gun with similar features to be valued at say $15,000? i cannot.

Well Ed, there are some continental guns that are on par with English guns, and some people think they are even better. For example, Fabbri and Bertuzzi. However, they cost just as much, if not more. It's all about quality, which involves fit, finish, balance, quality of materials utilized and craft. Surely, you understand that???

please compare and contrast these two...

why is one nine grand and the other one is $35,000 a do las?

http://www.gunsamerica.com/903749114/PERUGINI-VISINI-MODEL-Compettion-side-lock-12Ga.htm

http://www.gunsamerica.com/988786288/PURDEY-BEST-SIDE-LOCK-12G.htm

Are Watson Bros a "top" London maker ? Personally I say no . Yes they made some nice guns but so did a lot of others and in its day this would have been a nice gun . But have a close look , the pins are a bit chewed up , the wood appears below the metal on the lock plates and there is no picture of the points and I would hazard a guess the checkering has been recut . Looking at the photo of the barrels from the muzzle I have issues with the ribs .Have close look at the photo of the barrels showing the name , is it just me or dose it look like blacked Damascus?
I think this is a gun that needs close scrutiny before any bidding .
I will leave questions to its true value to others .