The only issue with the W&S 700 series is that they don't make them any more so you have to do a little searching to find the configuration & dimensions that will work for you.
I have a friend who would have agreed with you.
Until the first shot of the first day of opening pheasant season, in 2012. When his 700 became a not-so-good deal single shot. And remained that way for two years.
Opinions are like belly buttons, everyone has one. Facts, are different.
Best,
Ted
Ted, I was talking with a friend the other day about guns that break. He's a fan of German guns. I pointed out to him that I bought one several years ago that I really liked. Bought it knowing it had a broken striker--and Sauers have a reputation of being pretty tough guns. 2 year repair . . . I'd say that's the owner's fault. Ask the gunsmith when you're likely to get it back. Del Whitman fixed mine. More like a 2 month repair.
And which one of Kyrie's treasures do you really think is a good buy at the listed price?? There are good deals out there on inexpensive Spanish guns, but you need to exercise caution. If you stick with DT/extractors--like your Uggie (and the AyA made for Sears I picked up not too long ago)--that eliminates a couple potential problem areas. If you're going to go cheap, go no frills. And unless you're really lucky, you buy an older gun with disk-set strikers, you're still going to have to find a gunsmith who will make new ones for you. Uggie/AyA, you might luck out and be able to get parts . . . maybe. Or my friend's 2" Arrieta . . . that broke strikers almost immediately. Otherwise, you're probably in the same boat I was in when one of my Army & Navy pair from the 30's broke disk-set strikers. New ones had to be made, and that also takes time.
Larry,
You don't need a gunsmith to turn strikers for a disc set gun. You just need a guy with a lathe. I have access to a friends tool room lathe, and could make a set in an afternoon if he has a chunk of O1 laying around. I might not even harden them, depending on how much of a hurry I was in, and how big a chunk of steel he had, meaning I could make a few more, the right way, when I had time.
I posted the Spanish guns I thought were good enough deals, two Uggies floating around .5K. I realize there are higher grade Spanish guns, Seniors and Senatores and whatnot, but, that isn't what I have a Spanish gun for. Kyrie has a better grasp of the good, bad, and ugly from Spain, I just stick with my model 30. I would love to find a straight stocked model 30 in 16 gauge, with 28" barrels, but, it seems the cat is out of the bag on those, pricewise. As I already posted, a 700 is just a generic boxlock that people get more money for because it is English. If you need a generic boxlock, there really isn't a good reason to look at anything out of England. A lot of the stuff is beat to crap and they still want 2-2.5K for it. Ridiculous.
An SKB or an Uggy makes more sense. But, buying and using and accumulating doubles often isn't about sense, at the end of the day.
The only Spanish gun I've ever owned is the Uggy. No problems, yet. If I find a weakness or complaint, I'll post it right here.
If I had seen only one gun with a broken striker/tumbler, I might never think about it again. Now, I just know that there is a better, more economical, and easier to repair process that is used by most builders of boxlocks today. I don't believe anyone can make the argument that integral striker/tumblers are superior, in any way, to disc set strikers.
My opinion. But, not a bad one. You might think differently.
Best,
Ted
