doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com CSMC RBL 'Special Reserve' $12,000-13,000

Like I said ,thin skinned. Chief, last year I was given a 12 bore Weatherby SA , something or other, made in Turkey I think. I shot a few roosters with it the first couple days I had it, duly reported to this group, and shot some geese later on in the year. I have shot it a total of 19 times. Its OK, I guess...Prior to that I had a Benelli Super Black Eagle, one of the very first ones. Our Pastor talked me out of it. As guns go it was one of the best shooting most reliable ugliest things going. I shot, the first year I owned it, 22 CASES of shells through it, with nary a malfunction. Clays and trap. Great gun! I kick myself for selling it, but after all, as Pastor Isernhagen kept reminding me, he IS a man of God.

I wonder how long the people at CSMC are going to wait for some unsuspecting soul who really doesn't know what they are doing, and who wants a super nice gun and thinks....well, it's USA made and this outfit has a good reputation, to whip out $13,000 for one of these $3000 guns thinking they are getting a super high quality piece for this enormous sum of money???? This is what bothers me and frankly I don't like it.

LD,
I would have a Benelli too. A friend hunts one of the very light weight 12's, I don't know the model. They offer a light weight 20. I'm sorely tempted. What's that Pastor's number?!

Buzz,
I would guess quite some time. I do think the upgraded guns are worth a premium over the standard RBL. The guns are probably OK at 5-6K. The problem is the competition for them increases dramatically at that price.

Think of say a classic A.H. Fox, the Sterlingworth is in all respects the foundation of every A.H. Fox gun. The difference is in the final finish, wood and engraving. The price ascending accordingly.

Chief

My friend just bought a NIB RBL-28 with single trigger for $3,100. If any one doesn't think he got value for his money, you probably should stick to buying Turkish shotguns. I would suggest Mossberg just for the name recognition.

Any sxs looks good to me. The wood in those pics above is
stunning!
EDIT: Shinbones pics.

Last try: From Last Dollar: Tom 28, NO ONE so far has said that the RBL isnt good value for money at around 3 grand. The question was, is a gussied up one worth 13000? As I said, I had an RBL 20, and passed it on. that doesnt mean it wasnt a good gun. I have bought and sold Elsies, Parkers, Ithacas and some pretty nice british guns...and ,Oh My God, have even sold a couple of Lefevers...I suspect they were all good guns, but for whatever reason, didnt spin my crank...lighten up..

CSMC is not shy about their pricing in general. I am betting they try to sell if for awhile and if they don't get any offers close to the asking price, then they will give it to a charity auction and take a $13k tax writeoff . . . .

I AGREE that the "Specials" are not worth the money. You would be lucky to get 50% on a resale.
My guess is that the asking price is negotiable. Still, if you want an RBL at a reasonable price, they are out there to be had.
I've owned a half a dozen and currently own 2 RBL-28s and an RBL-20.
I love the 28 gauge guns and the 20 gauge are OK. I had 2 16 gauge guns at are now history and will never miss them.
I can attest to the quality, dependability, and shootability of these guns. They are great guns to carry in the field under any condition. I don't view them as family heirlooms and that's the one of the reasons I bought them.
"Lipstick on a pig" is a bit over the top, though. It's a valuation call, not quality.

Tom, what was the problem with your 16s. I would miss this one. A very good all around hunting gun for me.

I bought an RBL-16 and my hunting partner, at my urging, bought one also. When the guns arrived they weighed 7lbs, 4oz which was much heavier than the advertised weight of: 6lbs, 4oz -6lbs, 8oz. Since we are basically upland bird hunters, these guns were just too heavy. They also felt bulky and I found neither of these conditions pleasant.
I felt a bit guilty and traded my partner a Zoli Expedition 20 gauge and took his gun. He got a good deal and I got off the hook for advising him to buy it in the first place.
I sold his gun and traded my gun for a second (used) RBL-28 and gave a little cash.
Basically, I don't consider the RBL-16, as delivered to us, a game gun.
I own an Ithaca Classic Doubles Grade 4ES in 16ga. that was made specifically for me and the only one in existence with two sets of 16ga. barrels. It weighs 6lbs, 2oz with either set of 28" bbls. Now, that's a game gun.