My latest V. Bernadelli S. Uberto I imported by Charles Daly has only whetted my appetite for a true "best gun". But yesterday, shooting with Bladeswitcher, I became envious of his Webley and Scott boxlock English gun, which is a very nice gun, but even his Webley is not a "best gun".
What I want, is a sound, attractive, used "best gun" , that is:
1. A sidelock
2. Made to very high, hand made standards
3. Is a light game gun of approximately six and a half pounds, or slightly more.
4. Made in the pattern of the best English sidelock "best guns" from Purdey, Holland and Holland, or Boss.
5. Cosmetic flaws are acceptable, so long as they don't detract from the overall experience of owning a true "best gun".
What's the lowest price of entry into the realm of a true "best gun"?
To further the discussion, what are the price and quality differences of examples of a good, sound, used sidelock "best gun" from the U.K., Spain, and Italy, or anyplace else in the world a true "best gun" would come from?
Any opinions of what I should look for, would be much appreciated.
I have bought my first Double Gun Journal ca. 1991 and have been playing this game for long time. I would modify that VB and enjoy it by putting money into hunting opportunities instead of trying to find 'best gun' SLE from England. Buying 'best gun' will be expensive because it will entail buying double with either H&H or Beesley actioned "self-opening" gun (mechanism cocks on closing making it easy to open but harder to close) or their clone made elsewhere.
