doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com What's the deal with calling guns "Best"....

....when they're not.
An English Best is rather simple to define.
How do some call a Birmingham boxlock, like an Evans, "a Best"?
Or a BLNE, "A Best"?

An English Best Gun is that for a set of reasons; certain features and workmanship. Not spin. It is what it is. All the rest, are not "bests".

And who might you be..the new Lowell Glenthorne? I suppose you're one of those that believe that a best gun can only be made in England..or if thats not enough, it has to be made in London, England to be labeled as a best??

Best is almost always these days used as a hype by a seller. Most who use it have no real notion what is and what is not a best gun. Some think old with a little engraving makes any gun a Best. Some seem to think every makers top grade is a Best gun. Not the case in all but the fewest makers. To me a Best gun in poor condition is a thing to be avoided as a endless money pit to make right.

"Best" means "Bespoke" means "made to order" means "without caution as to price".
"Off the shelf" means just that.
"Best" gets stretched alot when its a low end gun from a "best maker"

The term "Best" is often confused with tarted up today.
In the day when few could afford the most outstanding product of any artisan, craftsman or otherwise superbly skilled workmen, the best that they could produce was their"Best".
When money was no hindrance, a man would call upon a maker to provide his best effort to certain specifications. Materials, workmanship, design, fit and finish were expected. This was true in the tailoring of a suit of clothes, silver for the table, a vehicle (conveyance) and even the breeding of his dogs and horses.
Not many of us, today, could command a best effort from the high end marques.
We might settle for what remains of the glory days, when a man could, and did, produce with tools and hand, a product that would last a life time and more, to several generations.
It is not ornamentation that makes something a "Best". It is the design, and skill in executing a superior design, coupled with the most outstanding materials of that day.
Best,
John

Very well said Mr. Mann, (Epitome of LEG)

Mr. Rowley,
What "features and workmanship" constitute "Best"?

The term "best" had a meaning in an earlier era when there was a general consensus as to what was superlative in human character, art, literature and craftsmanship. In a time when folks think that beauty is in the eye of the beholder... "best" is best left undefined.

J.K.B. von Falkenhorst

I will continue to call my WW Greener 16g as being "best" despite it is nothing but BLNE. The reason is I have been informed by the current Mr Greener that it was the best grade available at the time of its making, back in 1880s (it was in the works for three years). Any objections?
With kind regards,
Jani

WWGreener made the Best boxlock, but it was Exibition Grade gun. Its worth 120 pounds in 1900.
The same with "Grand Russe" Lebeau-Courally boxlock. A&D action, Sir J.Witworth barrels made by the best English barrel men, its worth more, than SLE of the same maker.