Jake,
You have three options, but only two good ones.
1 - Spend several hundred dollars building a good reference library, and then spend several hundred more hours reading, researching, and absorbing the information. Enjoy the process and then go on your hunt for a nice English gun.
2 - Hook up with a mentor who has traveled these paths or hire a very knowledgeable individual to keep you from getting burned. Go on your hunt together.
3 - Start hunting immediately and take your chances. Be prepared to make some mistakes ($$$).
To answer your question - Yes, you can get a nice English boxlock ejector for a few thousand. Non-ejectors are normally at a good discount off the ejectors and can be a good buy. Sidelocks and droplocks will cost you more but provincial makes can be good quality-buys.
It is possible to get burned (pay too much or get stuck with a lemon) - same with a quality American double. But if you have already played with Parkers, Lefevers, Foxes, and the like, then English doubles should not be too much of a stretch. For references, you might start with "British Gunmakers" (Vol I & II), "Birmingham Gunmakers", and any of the big company books (Purdey, Boss, Greener, etc.) For an overview of on the types of English gun, you might enjoy "Heyday of the Shotgun".
It may also be beneficial to research some of the posts by Dig Hadoke (sorry Dig, I don't recal the name you post under on this board) as well as his articles in the DGJ.
Good luck,
Ken
Last edited by Ken Georgi; 01/01/07 09:27 PM.
