doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Joseph Lang Price Variation?

New to Joseph Lang. Why the difference in price between this listing: https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-f...un_id=101047007 and say, this listing: https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-f...un_id=100926596 ? Both are 12ga SLEs. What gives?

Well I don't know if it accounts for the $12,000 difference but the more expensive gun started life with a significantly higher level of finishing and it's a significantly lighter gun. It also appears to be in better original condition.

Interesting triggers and trigger guard on the latter. Gil

Maybe my questions should be what are the different grades and how does one tell them apart?

Aside from the actual differences in the guns, one being retailed by Kirby Hoyt vs the other being retailed by G&H probably accounts for some of the variation. The rest is likely condition and quality. Kirby had a very nice pair of plain Hussey SLE's for a while that were very fairly priced as well, may serve as a better comp. The second is still available.

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-f...un_id=101204197

Guns retailed under the Joseph Lang name tend to reflect their position in the London gun trade at the time of manufacture rather than a grade or model range. Originally Lang was little more than a 2nd hand dealer but as time went on he produced some lovely finished guns made within the London trade. Some of these had most unusual and interesting features like the Phillips trigger exhibited by the more expensive gun. These reflect a special order rather than a company design policy.
As time went by they largely used actions easily recognisable as Webley Patent Screw-grips, mainly back action sidelocks but a few bar actions and boxlocks thrown in.
Then, after the amalgamations that eventually produced AG&L, the name was used to market cheaper boxlocks.
Both these guns are back actions using the Thomas Perkes lockwork and either the Webley Screw Grip bolting or something very similar. The cheaper once is 28" x 2 1/2", border engraved, uncased with poorer wood without drop-points. The more expensive is fully engraved, showing some colour, 30" x 2 3/4" (probably reproofed), much better wood with very nice O&L case. Also a rare and interesting trigger mechanism.
Price reflects all the above plus barrel condition (not specified) and what they bought it in at or the demands of the consignment seller.

A portion of the disparity in prices is the G&H Factor.......wait a couple of years and they will discount the price by THOUSANDS!!

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. Toby Barclay, your rundown helped a lot.

vam, none better than Toby!

If you are interested in a jump-start in understanding Brit/Continental used gun values, PM me and I'll give you some info that should help with such questions.

DDA

Rocketman, I have a valuation question for you but your inbox is full. Relates to an Atkin side lever SLE but with damascus re-barrel by Webley and Scott.

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