doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Buying a top tier English gun with new barrels

What is the consensus about buying a top tier English gun (Purdey, H&H, Boss) with new barrels from the original manufacture? For example, Griffin & Howe has what appears to be a nice H&H Royal for sale. The gun was built in 1905 but was rebarreled by H&H in 1984. Does a gun with new barrels raise any red flags? I will of course have Alfred inspect the gun, but I do not want to purchase a problematic gun. Is it better to stick with a gun with original barrels?

Ken

The only "red flag" would be, rebarreled by another.
If done by the factory - it should be up to snuff!

It is a very good idea!

You have an old gun with a new set of correct barrels - essentially a new gun.

The barrelling costs a fortune (£10,000) so you are a winner if someone else has absorbed this expense for you already.

Typically, you aren't going to find an English gun, of any quality, that was rebarreled, by, say Marlin, Remington, or H&R. It will have been done in England, and passed proof.

Since there exist guys like Thorny, who would shy away from a Holland gun, rebarreled by Westley Richards, or Powell's, or, whoever, these guns can represent a heck of a buy-you are going to shoot the gun, right?

Alfred, Kirk, and some of the other guys from Europe, who are living here, have rebarreled a few English guns as well. Maybe they don't have reproof marks on them, but, I'd be willing to bet they are quite sound for everyday use, and would be bargains as well.

You are at the level (cost, being an object) that you are buying the gun, and not the name. You are approaching it by hiring an expert to appraise the gun, a sound formula for success, assuming you lack the expertise to risk it on your own.

If you have no intension of selling the gun, anytime soon, you may get a fabulous buy on a liftime's worth of great quality gun. Selling it, soon after purchase, might sting the purse a bit, however. Good luck, and let us know how it goes.
Best,
Ted

Sorry old man, but I'd shy away from anything Westley!
I had a Churchill sleeved by them sods - had a gap and needed flossing.
I like original, but rebarreled from the factory is good too!

KDRoss,

Have you seen the two barrel Purdy as Safari Outitters? According to Niles, the second barrel was made later by Purdy. One or both have been fitted with teague chokes which are just about invisible. They were not sure if the gun was on their intenet site but the asking price was around 25K.

Milt

Guns with new barrels, from the makers you list, and made by them raise a few questions in my mind. Why the new barrel? Was the old barrel out of proof and no longer safe to shoot or was the gun so worn out that the barrels were shot but the action worth enough to invest a set of barrels in? I have seen a few old guns with lots of miles on them that have been rebarreled by the maker. Even new barrels do not turn back the clock so a gun that has been heavily used will still be a very used gun. New barrels or not. So have the gun evaluated just like any other gun.

Ted, Isn't this nearly allways the case with quality guns? New, used but original condition, all the way down the line? Ya gotta hold em (or steal em) to make money on em? Jake

Hey Lowell you old Sod, how you bean(pot),
I have see some really ugly sleeve jobs by WR,the big "Sleeved by....." Punched on the outside with a lump hammer!
But I bet they make (or have made:}& can fit a nice set of bbls.
I'd say each Quality Gun rebarreled by another should be taken for what it is, look at em, tight on fave? measure em, hows the balance.
If the other half has a fancier name than the bbls..but all is well with fit, thickness, proof , balance etc...I would use the half breed argument...& perhaps get a first class shooter at a very good price with probably much never bbls....it wouldn't bother me if gun n price were good?
But what do I know at 4:15 am......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Jakearoo,
Probably, but, an English best with non-original barrels is going to be a tougher sell then most things.

Look at Thorny's post, and, understand, he hasn't fired a box of ammunition through ANY of his doubles. And, when it comes to big money guns, he is far, far from the only one in that boat. Since these guys 'ain't shooting them, they have to come up with reasons of their own for having them, and the whole, "original" or "best" thing comes into play-'sorta like the Corvette guys, with Bloomington Gold certification, and, whatnot. Hey, whatever. Since these guys will turn their noses up at even a superb quality rebarreling job, that leaves actual shooters, more concerned with use and performance, to purchase these guns, typically at less than the cost of the new barrels.

You 'gotta understand, some guys will do anything to impress the chicks. Just me, but, I've always thought it was better to impress what you were shooting at. And, do that without impressing my wallet any more than necessary.

It is only a "my toy is bigger/better/cost more than your's" thing. A well used Purdey, or, for that matter, Parker, that has had new, quality barrels put on it, can represent the buy of a hunting/shooting lifetime. It could also be junk, but, our hero, Dan, has hired good help to sort that all out.

Patience, will bring good things his way.
Best,
Ted