Larry, I had an SKB Royal about 15- 20 years ago when I was just starting out with SxS's. It was a double-triggered, non-ejector gun with a silver receiver and blued floorplate. If I remember correctly it was a pistol grip/splinter combo. Might have had a slight beavertail. I shot it pretty well and still enjoy thinking about a pheasant hunt with Geoff Roznak. We were hunting in an area west of Chippewa Falls and just walking and not really ready when a rooster blasted up to our surprise. Geoff knows me as a somewhat deliberate shooter at sporting clays (and he's a fast SC shooter) and he was a little flabbergasted by how quick I popped that rooster. That was the nature of that particular SKB Royal. It came up and on fast; instant correct sight picture. Probably not the best for long crossing shots tho. I got a little spooked by the gun when I learned there were no parts to be had and if a firing pin broke it would take someone to make a hammer and pin as they were all in one (I was told), but it was worth owning it for that one rooster with Geoff!
Dave, I don't know the relationship between a Royal and a Royal Deluxe. I've seen a few Royals. I think they were later guns made for the European market. The Royal Deluxe, which came standard with a pistol grip and beavertail, seemed to have the American market as its target. (And was offered in Stoeger's Shooters Bible.) I haven't seen a Royal in some time, but as I recall, the basic features--such as engraving and checkering--were of similar quality to the SKB's imported by Ithaca. In other words . . . good, solid guns, but built to a much lower price point than the Royal Deluxe, which has much finer checkering, nicer wood, and profuse engraving. I thought about buying a Royal once or twice, but I think they were all 12's. Might well have bought one as a grouse, woodcock and quail gun in 20ga.
$450 bought a whole lot of gun back in 1960-61. (A little over a decade later, I bought a new Ithaca SKB 150 for $162. That was military Rod & Gun Club price, but even at standard retail, they were far less expensive than the Royal Deluxe was, 10 years earlier--which likely explains why we don't see very many of them.)
