doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Watson Bros. vs. Purdey, H&H, and Boss

Why not get Watson Bros. O/U "rounded" game gun. Yes, even the inside of receiver is actually lovingly rounded. In 12br configuration the action is <2.3" tall and you also get patented Watson ejector system with just three? component parts per plate.
What I'm saying is you would be getting a true spirited game gun without two very real weaknesses of SxS design.

This is to respond to various questions that have been put to me in many of the very helpful postings made in response to my initial question.

Pilgrimage to London: Maybe I will. I had initially rejected this idea because in the occasions I have walked into the Purdey, H&H, and Boss shops in London I have been treated like someone who has a piece of spinach stuck in this teeth. Not so Watson Bros, whose Michael Louca received me (by appointment) and gave me a tour of his shop and the opportunity to handle a number of his guns. I made such a pilgrimage, to Eibar, Spain, to select the maker for the only SxS I own, a Grulla. It was an unforgettable experience to speak with the craftsmen in each of the shops and handle a number of the guns of each. A rare experience in this era of mass-produced everything.

English sidelocks hunted: None (see above). Only own one SxS, my Grulla (6 lbs. 11 oz., 30" barrels, 15.25" LOP, IC and mod) and am delighted with it.

Why not Scottish RB: I am Scottish (well, okay, maybe 25% Scottish) and have read that the RB action is in some ways the "best", but I just like the looks of a sidelock, especially a rounded body sidelock.

Why not a Watson Bros o/u: Again, I am a traditionalist and so want to stick with SxS, even though I shoot an o/u better (i.e., not as badly as) than a SxS. If I ever buy a "best" o/u, it would be a Watson Bros, due to the light weight and innovative ejectors.

Again, thanks to all of your for your views.

Fair enough. My aesthetic ideal happens to vacilate between a sidelever Grant (9109) and a MacNaughton Edinburgh (1902). I hear what you're saying.

I bet you'd like the Reno show as suggested earlier. Lots of what you want to look at in one semi-convenient sensory overload place. You're going to have to handle some recent examples from the makers to determine if the theories hold up in the execution.

I suspect you'd admit that the personnel over for the Vintage Cup were pretty decent guys?

One more thought. If you are in London, be sure and go by William Evans and discuss your project. They are in business of getting out new best guns, also.

If the only SxS you own is Spanish you are due a good gun.

"Not so Watson Bros, whose Michael Louca received me (by appointment) and gave me a tour of his shop and the opportunity to handle a number of his guns." So long as the craftsman can deliver -- and Louca can -- establishing a relationship with a craftsman you like is a huge part of commissioning a bespoke gun.

To the comment, "In other words, is a H&H really $30,000 better than a Brown?" Given that Brown's have built a load of H&Hs -- including some of their Royals in the '60s and '70s -- that's open to debate, certainly in terms of intrinsic craftsmanship on a like-gun to like-gun basis, with name value set aside.)

HomelessjOe,

Regarding your comment on Spanish SxS, actually, I have been very happy with my Grulla. It's not a Purdey or Watson Bros, but then it cost less than US$6000 (probably closer to US$8000 today), and was completely "bespoke" as to weight, balance point, barrel length, stock dimensions, etc., even to the point of my choosing the stock blank I liked. Yes, I had one "glitch" with it (timing of left lock had to be adjusted), but it has worked flawlessly for me since. I think not too many years ago the Spanish makers were light on quality of fit and finish, but I think that has changed much for the better since. Just my two cents' worth.

I see the sniping at other's tastes, finances, knowledge, etc. is back. Homeless people should be given a free meal and told to hit the road or get a life.

We talking about guns John not someone kids....

Joe, EJ Churchill is going to offer Crown and Regal lines from Spain, so now is the time to warn them....