doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Best English shotgun companies

"The next group consists of Westley Richards, Dickson, Rigby, Grant, Beesley, Powell, Atkin, Churchill, Henry, Lancaster, Evans, Watson, Wilkes, Greener, Boswell, Gibbs and Lang. "

There is a HUGE spread in perceived quality (brand value) between these makers. Many of them didn't even make the guns they sold. SO who should get credit for the guns... the retailer or the actual maker?

I would add A.A. Brown, T. White, Anderson, McKay-Brown as providers of best class guns.

Rocketman's charts can be obtained by PM to Rocketman, if he so chooses to distribute them. He does the work.

Chukarman, your emphasis on "HUGE" suggests you know something that thousands of actual buyers of these guns don't.

Which may be true. I'm not arguing either way. However, Rocketman's charts are based on actual sales data, not speculation. The sales data quantifies a broad selection of opinion. So it's a good measure of how the market values the brand name.

The OP also specifically said pre WWII.

Perhaps this will help those unfamiliar with the charts.

There are three criteria. Original Quality. Current Condition. Brand Value.

Each of these are distinct yet key to our evaluation of a gun and more importantly to those in the market to buy or sell, what the dollar value for a particular gun might be in the marketplace. Very often, people confuse or conflate brand value with original quality.

As Canvasback states Rocketman�s system rates guns on brand value, quality of build, and condition based on market analysis he has done.

Having tried it against the market I have experienced it seems to hold water fairly well.

I believe his system is a good gauge for lack of any better. I am not aware of anyone else having created a similar system that is available.

This is correct, I was looking for the brand, or manufacture. Many made great "Best" type guns, but at very low volumes.

Buck2

Most people back then ordered guns, more precicsly picked a gunmaker, the same the way they picked their tailor; because their older relatives were clients, or because of proximity and other reasons that have no relation to today's collector perceptions. Collecting or hoarding guns was unknown, as was gun investing.

A read through magazines of the time is useful for what happened back then. A read through auction results shows what happens now.

While many companies did not make the guns they sold, intelligent commissioning of outworkers and makers to the trade produced very high quality guns indeed.
Brand value has to do with resale or bragging rights, while original quality and high condition will yield more value per dollar invested, in a gun that you actually use and enjoy. IMHO.

Check out guns on pegs. They have a pick if money was no object what gun would you buy.
William Evans/and Bisley. Made the top 10. You may be surprised.

Exactly!!!!

To the first point - my point is simple... which would YOU rather have -- an Atkin spring opener SLE or Powell or Gibbs or Boswell? There is a very wide spread in brand value between the makers in the "Second Tier".

I would not argue your second point - original quality is what it is regardless of the name engraved on the gun.

Chukarman, that wasn�t the question. I wasn�t trying to express my desires. Just simply answer the OP�s question as well as I could.

And within reasonable variances that allow Rocketman to make a sensible grouping, those names have similar values on the open market. Not my opinion.