doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Suggestions for DGJ editor

I haven't been thrilled with DGJ in recent years either. I dropped my subscription a while back after subscribing for years. I still sometimes buy it off the rack, but only after thumbing through it. I buy it for the articles on fine double guns. If it's packed with wasted pages on "classic" American-built, double-barrel barn door stops - like it so often has been in recent years - I leave it on the rack.

I find Dig's articles well written and of particular interest. Likewise those from Ross and Sherman. No "how to" DIY articles, please. Fine double guns buggered by hacks already abound. No need to encourage more.

Exactly right. Do it yourself belongs somewhere other than in collector publications. I think such information can be properly given on internet sites. Diggory has found a niche that is pleasing to those who desire to add to their fine gun collections. I wish he would be given even more space than he occupies now. The UK auctions may be our salvation from bad gun shows and USA auctions that do not really sell their wares but hold much of it back when sufficient bids are not received. Much of the merchandise offered for bid in USA auctions is not really available to the highest bidder. Diggory is willing to tell us about an alternative source, so why criticize his place in DGJ? DGJ sets are now selling for maybe a grand or a dollar or two more. In five years, when the research material available in those volumes is a bit more hard to find, how much will those sets sell for?

I don't necessarily disagree with some of your points but don't you think "suggestions for the DGJ editor" would have more chance of being effective if they were sent to the DGJ editor?

My suggestion to those who are unhappy is to do the necessary research for an article and submit it to Dan for publication. Too many people want some one else to do the heavy lifting so they can sit back with a good cigar and a double malt and criticize others hard work. JMHO. AND as our beloved Russ used to say, "Of course I may be wrong." Please don't content yourself with "why don't they----." If you feel strongly about an issue, get up and do it your self. I know from personal experience that solid research is hard work AND expensive. Go easy on those who at least try.

Thanks, Walt.

I find the auction reports to be the most interesting articles of late. Wish they would do them for US auctions as well. It's interesting to learn about the guns and see how the evaluation compares with the final gavel. I ordered DGJ's British Auction DVD. Production value is very "home movie", but the best part is having the former long time H&H employee walk through the auction, pick up a wide range vintage guns and tell you something interesting about them. Would be a great DVD if production value improved to something similar to what the vintage car auction shows do on ESPN/Speed Channel.

I lap up most of the DGJs that come my way.

I agree with a couple of posts:
1. If you want to see something new/different, offer your thoughts directly to the editors;
2. If you want to see something new/different, offer your thoughts directly to one of the contributors (there's a few here) to see if they can turn it into printable copy (I'd welcome any new ideas to try and write into something worthwhile);
3. If you want to see something new/different write it yourself, and submit it with a short letter explaining why you think it's worthy of publication;
4. I'm learning rather a lot from Dig's auction series, and enjoying it. It sounds like it may be about to evolve too; and
5. Not everything I read or see in DGJ is quite my field or up my alley, but I can still appreciate it, still learn from it, and maybe in years to come find it useful.
RG

Cadet that is one thing that I totally agree on. As I evolve in my collecting early issues take on totally new meaning because I was interested in a different set of articles at that time. The magazines are very interesting that way.

Tim

Is the article on the Baker SPT in the Fall issue? It isn't in the Summer issue, that I could find.

The article on Max Ern was as good as any that has ever been in the DGJ. Some brief research on the internet found this:
http://www.max-ern.com/english/geschichte.htm