I was talking with the manager of a local gunshop that specializes in collectibles and older shotguns. He says the market for older American SxS is currently very soft; and also weak for Browning A-5's. Much more so than in recent years. He Had probably two dozen (plus) Parkers, Sterlingworths, Remingtons, SxS, etc. on the racks with little movement, at what I thought were reasonable prices. And he had about 10 A-5's in various condition. In prior years, those A-5's and Sterlingworth's priced under $1k would have moved quickly.
I suspect much of this is age related. I often shoot at several sporting clay ranges. The younger guys (under 40, of which there are many) all seem to shoot O/U's or modern semi-autos with choke tubes. The only guys that I see shooting SxS's have more gray hair than I do -- or no hair at all.
Its not surprising that Spanish SxS makers, such as Ugartechea and Arrieta are going broke. These younger shooters seem unlikely to lay out $4k to $10k for a new SxS.
The times, they are a changing...
gold40
The market for old SxSs isn't going to get any better because fewer buyers and more guns brought to the market are not a good combination. I recommend mass-produced O/Us as game guns to new upland hunters. Beretta made some good ones in 12ga with steel receiver and weight as low as 6.5lb. The smaller gauges weigh even less. Another good one would be Winchester 6500 "hunter" with 70mm chambers and Winchokes. If one doesn't mind fixed chokes old Mirokus with double triggers are fine choice.
