doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Does your collection have a focus?

Post Civil War to WWI single shot rifles, particularly target rifles. Occasionally dabbling in doubleguns and old original lever guns, the latter typically Marlin.

Currently very much coveting a Jeffery style Farquharson action to build into a rifle.

I suspect most of us have a core interest but have trouble with focus.

Glenn

Strong believer in the all-purpose superiority of 12 ga. except 10 is better if you're up to it or stand in water all day, a bias aided and abetted by the aggravating price premium on small bores. Have a couple of 16s but only one 20 ga single shot which has been in my family for a while. Partial to Browning Supers, Ithaca Flues, damascus Lefevers. Been very lucky to have the help of this board about the care and feeding of the old ones. Like mtwoodson, I have a few "families" which live in the safe but I couldn't afford to run the numbers or grades even if I had the opportunity and expertise to do so. Would give a good home to a Hollenbeck drilling except practicality--in so far as it can be said to apply to this hobby--stops me. Alltime favorite featherwgt 12: Charlin. Need a Merkel or Sauer for my "flags of the world" corner. Headspace bigger than safe space and disposable income.

jack

My focus is more on shooting than collecting. Guns were made to be shot.

There's nothing like the feel of a High quality English Hammer gun.

My original focus was on high grade English and Italian guns. I've completed the Italian side of the equation for the most part (though I would not turn down another if I stumble across one that's priced right). Now I'm focusing on the English side. I've only got room in my safe for about 3 or 4 more guns, and my intent is that they be good ones. It does not matter when they were made, only that they be among the best and in excellent condition.

The most recent aquistion was a Stephen Grant hammerless sidelock from the turn of the century era.

I have both English and American guns.
The English are the best, the Americans the most interesting.
I've sold my Euros - no United Nation interest in collecting.

Yes, about 15 years ago I sold off all the other makes and now have only Parkers. Plus a few rifles and pistols. It's a good thing Parker never made rifles and pistols....

The term "Collection" suggests a focus or purpose;

i.e. pre-WWI american 20 gauge SxS's...or....

Like many others here, I have an "Accumulation," not a collection. If I see a shotgun that is interesting and affordable, I often buy it. Sometimes I mentally justify the purchase - a good rainy day bird gun (if it isn't in showroom condition). After shooting it for a month, year, etc. I sell/trade it when something else becomes MORE INTERESTING.

On the other hand, some of my shotguns have stayed with me for 20+ years.

Now that the kids are gone and I'm semi-retired, there are more PLAY$$$.

JERRY

BPE Double rifles and Foxes.

The double rifles; a sample of each of the major calibers, 360, 450/400, 450, 500, 577.

The Foxes,; well I started witht the Sterlingworth and then there is the SW Skeet & Upland. The you go to the SPE series, then the A, the B and C. I can pretty much forget anything higher due to cost and the CE's are very pricey and will take a while. i have made a very good dent in the cross section but still working at it. My goal is a good condition or better selection of each grade in each of the three gauges Fox made them in.
Of course if soemthing outside of that comes along that is nice, well I will force myself to accept it.

SHARPS - of course. The only design to span percussion breach loading to big bore cartridge (models 1851 to 1878). The only gun to play a decisive role in American history from "Bleeding" Kansas as "Beecher's Bibles"; to the first US Sharpshooters of Col. Hiram Berdan in the Civil War, to the Indian Wars, to the Buffalo ranges from Ft. Griffith Tx. to Montana (decimating both a species of bison and destroying our Native American Indian culture in the process), to the Creedmore matches at Bisley England. The Sharps rifle is a combination of history, sleek design and "romance" all in one.

Of course, I would never turn down the opportunity to own and shoot a fine vintage double gun from either side of the pond.

I have a "collection" of stuff few others will covet. The focus is left-handed guns, or left handed friendly designs. Two Darnes, a 20 and a 12 were purpose built as lefthanded guns, and my Tobin 16 was restocked with just a touch of cast on. Oddly, most righthanders shoot the Tobin well without realizing there is something amiss. I do, too.
The others, include a Remington 17 pump (these have become popular of late, it would seem) Ithaca 37 (same thing as the 17, fitted with lefthanded safey) and a couple of Mossberg 500s, and one model 12. I used to have two model 12s. One of the Mossbergs has been seen to by a Marine Corps armorer, and works as flawlessly as any pump gun ever made. I don't know what he did to the internals, but the barrel 28" was checked and tuned at various ranges for POI.
There is also an Italian folding single shot hammerless 12 that my Mom gave me, a VZ-24 with a lefthanded laminate stock, Dakota model 70 safety, and Zeiss 6 power in Redfield mounts in .257 Roberts Ackley Improved (I can't figure out what I would ever need another center fire rifle for, this one does it all for me) a lefthanded Remington 581 .22 rimfire bolt (mild custom, don't tell Thorny it is right there with his Kimber at 50 yards, but, I need to get it into a walnut stock) a 552 Remington .22, with the deflector on the side, and a few .357 revolvers for CC.
Some were expensive, some were free, and I use them all. Haven't bought anything in quite some time and I did just liquidate some extras.
Best,
Ted