"When Lord So-and-So wanted a round action built as light in weight as possible, that's what Lord So-and-So got."
This echoes a common misconception about best guns, that they were made for wealthy titled people. The makers' ledgers disprove this notion. The plain Mr's and mid level armed forces ranks far outnumber the nobility. Best guns were affordable back then.
The price list posted above by OWD gives a key. At the time those prices applied a navy captain earned nearly 500 pounds annually, or four times the price of a best. The price of a mid level boxlock was about a quarter of the price of a best sidelock or RA.
There was no collecting or gun hoarding in those days.
A new best today starts at a staggering 38000 unengraved (D. MacKay Brown RA). Interesting that the Royal Navy Captains salary today does not cover a finished best gun, even though modern technology has lowered production costs. Today the price of a mid level boxlock is a stunning 1/50th of a best gun.
Something went wrong somewhere along the line. Personally I see gun hoarding as the main cause.
Last edited by Shotgunlover; 01/07/18 06:02 PM.
