doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Worlds Best Gun Store

Have any of you been to Griffin and Howe?

It sure would be nice to know what's behind that statement. To listen to the same guy a few years ago, you'd have thought CSMC walked on water, that he had Lou on speed dial, and was his BFF.

It would be better yet to hear both sides of the story, since statements like this can be damaging to the reputation of a company. Vague trash talking tells us nothing, and shouldn't be considered a valid review of product quality or services.

As to World's Best Gun Store, there are several that I really liked for different reasons. I am still impressed with the large selection of high quality doubles that I saw at London Guns in Santa Monica, Ca. when I was in college, and working for my uncle for the summer. This shop has been gone for years. My cousin and I were passing through on a business trip to dismantle some large machinery my uncle had bought, and when I saw the store, I asked him to stop to let me browse. I didn't even own any doubles then, but knew I wanted to. The salesman was polite and patient, but I don't think he took this college kid in Levi's, tee shirt, and sneakers as a serious buyer for 5 and even 6 figure Best Quality double shotguns and double rifles. It floored me to see some guns that cost many times the price of a new Cadillac. It was cool to examine the kinds of dangerous game guns that were used by Princes, Maharajahs, and titled English gentlemen in the African and Indian Hunting books I'd read. Nothing at all like the stuff you'd see in an average Pennsylvania deer hunting camp.

I was also impressed with Gene's Gun Shop, the gun and gunsmithing business that I frequently visited in my teens. As I've said here before, Gene showed me his vary large collection of ornate museum quality European doubles, Drillings, Vierlings, etc., that he had somehow stolen from the Nazi's when he was an Armorer in the German Army in WW II. It is even more amazing that he was able to smuggle that very large stash of guns into the U.S. when he emmigrated here after the war. It was the best place in my area to see the difference in engraving styles and game scenes between pre-war European guns, and the more pedestrian flying turnip stuff on American guns commonly seen here. Gene also took the time to teach me useful things like spring making and tempering when there weren't many customers, and his wife could handle the store. With only his strong grip, he managed to do very nice checkering without a cradle, and was happy to talk guns when he stopped to light his pipe. Naturally, he had a bias toward the German and Prussian guns he favored, and spent time showing me their superior fit and finish, bolting, etc. Most memorable of all is that Gene was a crazy bastard who did many things differently than ay other gun shop I've ever visited. He kept a loaded full auto Mauser pistol near the cash register to deal with anyone who might try to rob him. Many visits left me shaking my head, such as the time I was browsing the used guns while another customer was showing Gene his malfunctioning deer rifle. It was as quiet as a Library, and I could hear most of their discussion about a misfiring problem. Without any warning, there was a loud blast as Gene test fired the .30-06 through a hole in the floor behind the counter, into a drum of sand in the basement. You just don't experience things like that in most Gun Shops.

I hear Steve Barnett's in West Point, Mississippi is a pretty nice store. Has anyone been there before?

I fully intend to visit Steve Barnett Fine Guns in West Point, MS someday. I got to know Steve at gun shows/exhibitions several years before he passed away, and have gotten to know his stepson August, who now runs the business. My great friend John Roberts lives near enough to drive over and visit the store occasionally and always makes me jealous with the accounts of such.

Jaqua's in Findlay, Ohio is a pretty nice store. A nice selection of all types of new and used guns. With several trap stands for tournaments.

I vote for that beautifully paneled old barn on the "Stearn and Rock-Bound Coast" back in the days when David Trevallion had his shop there.

British Sporting Arms in Millbrook is always nice to visit.

Jaquas was at one time a great place. I went there various times when Bill was alive. Years later I went and they did not have the quality/selection of the better grade guns that they had when bill was running it. I spoke to Cam and ask her what happened and she said they just did not sell as fast and now the people were more interested in Citoris, Beretta o/u and autos, so thats what they had.

John Boyd

That's probably true. Most stores I go into are loaded with new $500.00, pump style shotguns, low brand handguns and assault rifles. And you named the decent brand names that people are interested in when they want a decent gun. I haven't been in Jaqua's in well over a decade. They used to be a huge trap shooting store. So, I can believe they have changed too.

You sure never miss an opportunity to be a turd, do you vilhelm?
Although I no longer hold the New Britain's in such high regard, I am happy to hear of your close personal relationship
with your Nazi war criminal buddy Gene, you know, the seller of stolen war plundered goods to goose steppers such as yourself.