Don White told me years ago he had been "fired" for not ordering enough guns, this after Firearms International "fired" Darne, for not being able to keep up with orders!
It's a dog eat dog world, no?
If one never looked at anything but R10s and R11s, it might not enter the discussion, but, the guns Stoeger brought in for keeping in stock, to sell through the catalog, were not built as well as the guns going to points in Europe. I've seen LOTS of Stoeger (and, Firearms Center guns) that just don't measure up to what would typically be in the used rack at Bruchet, or another dealer in France, that were roughly built in the same era. An R10 is usually pretty similar to another R10, no matter the era, but, the R15s and V19s produced in the 1960s-1970s for the US market will be, as a quick rule of thumb, not shining examples of good workmanship. They WILL work, but, the wood, engraving and overall finish will be inferior to a European gun.
I tried to stay away from Stoeger and Firearms Center marked guns when I was in the business. I still would.
The Lorren Thomas guns marked a return to pre-war quality, when Paul Bruchet returned as owner. The only caveat I would put out there on guns from this era, is watch the 20s and 28s-someone seemed to think all of them should have short, 25 inch tubes, and I handled a few that I can't imagine hitting a target with.
My 1946 vintage R10 is a beauty-but, it took a second try, by the Bruchet's, to get it that way. I'll go out on a limb, and guess that the wood is about the best you could find on an R10.
They don't usually look like that.
Larry, the lead time on production of those catalogs from the late 1950s-early 1960s might surprise you in this digital age. I'm not sure exactly when Stoeger got Darne, but, I'd bet they had guns in the warehouse before a catalog made mention of it.
They were pushing them, hard, by the 1964 catalog.
Best,
Ted
