Dear Krakow,
I make joke in good spirit. The first examples in this county from the Huglu Co-ops WERE abysmal. Whether that was because poor quality choices were made to import, or whether generally poor quality just was prevalent, will make an interesting research subject for some "definitive" future article by a gunwriter, no doubt: "Turkish Best"?
However, some time ago the Czech's and Italians were reported to be investing training, machinery and QC into the Turkish gun industry. It began producing sub-assemblies for 'name' European brands. About then, good reports began to come in from users of De Haan's guns. He certainly wrestled with their QC and the cultural/language barriers, but the best guns he got and retailed pointed towards the future that is being realized. Full-blown quality sidelocks do not appear to be so far fetched, now.
Remember, in the early days of this BBS, some folks opined that they could load a pickup truck with name-brand Spanish doubles and they'd be worth nothing but scrap. The really early first run of Turkguns were damn near uncomfortably close to that. However, a decade-plus later in a globalized market, it is apparent that there may be some very attractive choices now available. That serious gun-dealer importer/export folks have weighed in here positively with purchase opinion and advice is a good sign, as well.
Anyway, when i saw the 'turk gun' string, i had to smile. It's a long way from the controversial days of Uggie Model 30's being imported and sold for 300.00 dollars, but it would seem that now the international community gathered here can deliver some really, really good experience and knowledge on current trends -- the faults, virtues, prices and the rest of story, too.
As to the political history of the Turks, right up to the Gates of Vienna and beyond, it was a tough deal for those whom they conquered and ruled. One of my long-time clients was the daughter of a family that fled the Armenian mass-murders, to America. She had first-hand stories. Her mother kept a double-barreled shotgun loaded in the house for the rest of her life, even after they achieved financial security in an upscale neighborhood.
That cultural ferociousness was still notable in the Gallipoli campaign, as most of this well-read and educated group here would know. It didn't wane much, either with time. In the Korean War, it was reported the Northern aggressors feared facing the Turks more than any single UN force. However, a platoon of Ethiopians armed with .303 Enfields did pretty well, too, They held the walls of a battered farmhouse in the middle of a mass Chinese human wave attack pretty much for a day, and marched out when it was over. Nothing like a tough culture to make tough infantrymen.
As to the Turks having a gun-making heritage, there was a traveling museum exhibit a couple of decades ago, The Winged Horsemen, which displayed royal booty obtained by the Poles when they captured the Sultan's Field Headquarters intact. In the exhibit was a rack of muzzleloading flintlock rifles, with swamped barrels, peep sights, set triggers, crisp deep rifling, and exquisite workmanship. They were of large bore, and meant for long-distance military sniping, at a time when Europeans pretty much thought fifty yards with smoothbore muskets was the useful range for warfare.
We tend to take European and Western technical and cultural superiority for granted and forever. But the rest of the world has gone to a tough school, since WW2. The 21st Century is going to be very interesting. Sometimes I think we have no more idea of our future, than did any of the self-assured Imperial European Belle Epoch's citizens during the first decade of the 20th Century
However, and on a more upbeat note, Krakow K., I DO know where a nice little proven 28ga DeHann SxS, DT, ejector dwells. Just the perfect small-bird gun for a feeble old tottering bird hunter -- who possibly could put it to brush and rush usage, y'know? Happy guns, powder smoke, dogs, and good whiskey to all who would share those joys.
Now, I really really gotta git, but it's been fun to visit..Adios.
