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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,104 Likes: 591
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,104 Likes: 591 |
Fun to see this old thread come up again. Some of the original posters here are now gone, sadly.
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1 member likes this:
BrentD, Prof |
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,485 Likes: 391
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,485 Likes: 391 |
Not all will agree with me but besides a small bore Fox, I have a hard time justifying either the cost or the gun with most American makes. The other exception I have are Remington 1894. As finely made as a Parker with a classic A&D design. Too bad most you run across have been rode hard and put away wet.
I focus on Continental guns and British. And as far as value for gun goes, the Continental are typically better value than the British options.
Now, if I was "collecting" guns and looking for appreciation, that would be a different story.
Last edited by canvasback; 11/10/22 11:51 AM.
The world cries out for such: he is needed & needed badly- the man who can carry a message to Garcia
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4 members like this:
Ted Schefelbein, eeb, BrentD, Prof, Parabola |
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 14,120 Likes: 198
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 14,120 Likes: 198 |
As Lloyd says, many or several of the previous posters are gone. However, this is the most educational threads on double shotguns we have ever experienced. I have some points to make on gun quality and gun handling that I will post when I have time.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 14,120 Likes: 198
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 14,120 Likes: 198 |
One point I will make on gun handling is that a bird gun is not a pigeon gun, end of story. Light British game guns at 6 1/2 pounds are wonderful for what they were intended. Slightly heavier British pigeon guns are a bit more to handle and weigh about 7 1/4 pounds. American pigeon guns are even more to handle at about 7 3/4 pounds, 8 pounds or less according to turn of the 20th century rules. A man of good physical condition can handle any of them without any problem, again, end of story. I like a good light British or American game gun for general shooting at birds or clays, and do well with them. However, an eight pound 30" 12 gauge also feels like a wand under the same conditions. I have, in my lap, a 7 pound, 15 ounce Parker, that Annie Oakley shot in the 1902, last Grand American at Live Birds, and would choose that gun for any competition at birds or clays that were more than 30 yards from me when released or flushed. I would choose a common game gun of lighter weight if the birds were closer or faster. One point that I am making is that any shooter in good physical condition can handle a 6 1/2 pound or 8 pound gun with equal comfort and skill as long as the stock fit is proper. Annie's Parker pigeon gun, which I don't think is a great fit for me, is factory built at Parker Brothers to her exact dimensions, to the sixteenth of an inch, per Parker factory letter, as fitted by Lancaster. However, it is a hoot to shoot, because of its historical provenance, regardless of poor fit, as mentioned by previous posters when discussing collectors of American guns. Yes, we collectors of American guns are an emotional bunch, even though the guns are junk.
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2 members like this:
Mills, Stanton Hillis |
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 666 Likes: 45
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 666 Likes: 45 |
As a younger relatively fit man, I fully notice that extra pound in the field when I am hoofing it for 3-4 hours at a clip. For that reason, I really prefer a 6 3/4 pound gun to a 7 1/2 pound gun under those circumstances. I agree at clays, there is no material difference.
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,018 Likes: 50
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,018 Likes: 50 |
Learned a long time ago that talking someone else’s gun down was not of much value.
Be it a Stevens 20ga SXS or a Purdey if the shooter handles it well it is a good gun for them.
Most if not all of us here like SXS guns. I know I do.
I am not a collector, what I own I intend to use. Which is why when looking at vintage guns I care more for condition of barrels and other mechanics than beauty of engraving or figure in the wood.
It is why I value a 1901 Boss SLE with new barrels in 1979 and .030 + wall thickness more than original condition.024 walls. I mean to shoot what I buy and maybe my grandson will too.
Putting a custom stock, which may not have great figure, but fits me perfectly makes it a dream gun.
I like figure in the wood and pretty engraving, but before that shootability is fundamental.
There are many high end guns that are seriously worn, but usable for another lifetime of some but not heavy shooting. It is really a trade off which comes down to the question is it worth it to you?
I know that each of us bring biases in terms of what we value, that said I argue for a positive spin.
Last edited by old colonel; 11/14/22 09:15 PM.
Michael Dittamo Topeka, KS
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3 members like this:
eightbore, Mills, eeb |
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 14,120 Likes: 198
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 14,120 Likes: 198 |
DanS.W., I appreciate your post and your points, but you must realize that we, as wealthy shotgun enthusiasts, can own more than one gun. I don't take my pigeon guns into the grouse woods and don't take my grouse guns to the pigeon ring.
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1 member likes this:
Stanton Hillis |
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,749 Likes: 744
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,749 Likes: 744 |
DanS.W., I appreciate your post and your points, but you must realize that we, as wealthy shotgun enthusiasts, can own more than one gun. I don't take my pigeon guns into the grouse woods and don't take my grouse guns to the pigeon ring. My pigeon gun looks a lot like a Remington 1100. My grouse gun looks like a Darne V19. I like Don King’s definition of wealth. “ If you can count your money, you ain’t got none”. Best, Ted
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1 member likes this:
Buzz |
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 666 Likes: 45
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 666 Likes: 45 |
My wife only allows two, which I concede reasonably keeps me out of financial and storage risk. I have usually split them between a modern stack barrel and a sleek English side by side, but somehow I always end up dumping the stack barrel and buying another side by side...
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