Thanks for the post. It's a very interesting one.
My stats may help people understand my thoughts on this subject. I'm a 50 year old who has been an avid hunter and shooter since I was 10. Until recently my income was modest so affording a gun in the $2-3,000 was out of the question. I shot Rem. 870s, Benelli M-1 and an old Browning BT-99. I began working on and researching old SxSs about 2 years ago when I started to refinish and repair a Grade 2 Ithaca Lewis that was in my fathers gun case forever. I've worked on a couple other domestic doubles over the last 2 years. This year I paid $2,500 for a slightly used B Rizini O/U 12/20 gauge, 2 barrel set. This was more than I have ever spent for a gun.
Now for my opinions. I think a good quality SxS in the $2,000 to $3,000 price range is great. Yes there are a few others out there in this price range but my feeling is competition breeds quality and better pricing. Failure to meet quality requirements means you will get gobbled up the competition.
My next gun will probably be a new gun or used vintage gun in the $2,000-$4,000 range. I still find it difficult to spend $4,000+ on a gun that problably won't break more targets or kill more birds although I can see my taste becoming more expensive with time and income. So when I spend $2,000+ on a gun it's because I like it and want it rather than need it. I also think there are a lot of guys out there that are upper-middle income that would stretch to get a good gun in the $2-3,000 price range like the RBL.
As far as my personnal preferences, single trigger, choke tubes, pistol or POW grip, splinter forend, good quality - figured wood, case colored with no or simple engraving of good quality, 14 3/4 LOP with a small pad, extractors or ejectors. The things I hate on guns is poor wood with a bad finish, crappy engraving and poor fit of components.
A couple other points - Turkey is not an enemy of the USA. I have not been impressed by other Turkish made guns I have seen and although the S&W name has been out there a long time I may have to change my current thinking of them as a pistol only manufacturer.
