doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com First SxS purchase?

Not really my first SxS purchase I do have a Western Arms .410 and Lefever Nitro that were given to me. I'm looking for a 16 ga Ithaca not a high grade but a good field grade or lower grade to hunt with and maybe some clays. Might consider a Fox or Parker.

My real question is where should I be looking for a good gun? I've been looking at gunbroker, Guns international, etc.for a few months but most I have looked at have some sort of issue. I'm not new to GB having a few hundred transactions over the years but I am new to SxS so I'm leary with not seeing the gun in hand. Also new to the site.

I know it's a broad question and probably dumb but thought I would ask here.

I would go to the collector clubs web sites and learn as much as possible before making a choice. I picked what I shoot mostly because of the support from the host club. They have helped me more than once with advice and direction on purchase restoration and repair.

Some if not most obscure doubles you are in it deep if something goes wrong.

Boats

Hi Woody, no dumb questions here. Your just asking for advise and you'll get good info here.

But, and there's always a but. Can you tell us if you want a modern gun, vintage, English, Spanish etc. What type of SxS you want can point you to some dealers who specialize in that type of gun and be able to help you make the right choice. So a little more info would be great!

Best,

Greg

MJnly looking for an Ithaca 16 ga field or lower grade gun. I've shot a buddy of mine Ithaca quite a bit and it fits me nice. Not sure the exact dimensions. Since I'm in the finger lakes area I've always been partial to Ithaca's. I've owned a bunch of 37's over the years. But I would consider a Fox too.

Look around.
Read - here, the Parker, Fox and LC forums (I'm probably forgetting someone - sorry) and elsewhere. Since I started writing this, I see you mentioned a 16 - go to 16ga.com and hang out there, too.
Go to gun stores and pick up and handle as many guns as you can. Figure out what feels right in your hands - that will help guide you to buy what's right for you.
Follow Gunbroker, Auction Arms, Guns Int'l and GunsAmerica - look at all the ads. Do not rush to buy.
Learn to discern potential problem areas. The folks on this site are some of the best at filling one in on where problems can occur and how to suss them out.
Learn as much as you can before opening your wallet. It's really a lot of fun.

I guess I should pay closer attention, didn't know you were looking for a good American gun....sorry...need new glasses!

You can check on the various forums that covers the guns your interested in. They maybe able to point you in the right direction.

Here's some links that might help as Dave mentioned:

http://www.16ga.com/forum/index.php

http://www.foxcollectors.com/ah_fox/content/

http://parkerguns.org/forums/index.php

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewforum.php?f=59

Good Luck and as Dave has said, have fun. Most of it is looking!

Greg

I belong to 16ga.com. I love that site. As someone mentioned I'm in no hurry. Just looking around. That is what I was looking to see where was best to look. As far as local gunshops most of ours are gone. The ones we do have are black guns and junk. I do go over to Turnbulls and look at all the nice stuff on occasion but nothing ever in my price range. But if I do need work done I would probably use them since they are local and no shipping issues. Thanks for all the info.

Contact Mark Beasland at Mark's Born Again Birdguns. He has just what you are looking for, NID 16 with nice wood. 715-814-1295.

Woody402,

If you're in the NY State Finger Lakes area, you're likely less than a 2 hour drive from Hausmann's Hidden Hollow near Friendsville PA where the NE Classic Side by Side shoot will be held on Thursday thru Saturday June 4 - 6. HHH is just across the NY border from Vestal NY into PA.

There will be more doubles there on display and for sale than you would see in a couple years of visiting gun shops. Most of the side by side collector clubs will be there too.

Go here: http://foxcollectors.com/My%20Forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=5935 This is from the Fox Collectors web site. Should give you the details. You will find the shoot mentioned on some of the other web sites also including the doublegunshop site here.


To help you find HHH, plug these Lat, Lon coordinates into your GPS: 41.86261, -76.05701 Enter them into Google Maps, etc. and that will show you where HHH is. That will be the intersection of PA state route 4015 and Flynn Road. Just go east about a mile on Flynn Road, a dirt road, to the end. It's a great event you shouldn't miss if you like side by side doubles.

Where are you in the Finger Lakes area?

Hope this help.

Jolly

Williams gun sight here in Michigan has a NID in 16ga for $595. I always ask " what's the best you can do ?" Terry will usually come down a couple of bucks. If you want I could check it out. Paul