Bill Brockway was a friend of mine but he died several years ago. He was artistic, highly skilled, and told great jokes.
Making a quality flintlock double would be extremely expensive. The flint lock is a most complicating undertaking. Making a pair of locks alone would be worth at least $50,000.00 for reliable, quality locks. A good quality gun would cost over $200,00.00. If Holland's or Purdey's produced such a gun, it would be exorbitant. It is much more difficult to stock a flint double than a modern double.
Recently I did some restoration on a Jack Haugh flint double and let me assure you it was equal to any British antique flint double. Haugh made pretty much everything but the barrels. I have no idea of the original price but I bet Jack didn't get near what he deserved. The gun is lovely and best quality.
I have little expectations from mass produced flint guns mainly because of the locks. The ones I have seen have the cheapest locks and they are the heart of the gun. The proper strength and balance of the springs are quite critical but few people know how to do it. I once worked on a flint gun for which Mike Ehinger made new frizzens. They were exquisite and I have never seen better, antique or modern. By the way Mike has been retired.
When I work on antique flint or percussion guns and rifles I wish I had a small winch to cock them and open the frizzens. The springs are strong. The springs on modern made guns I have handled are weak compared to the antiques.
Yes, it's very possible for a business to make a dependable flint double but I would bet the least expensive gun would cost at least $20,00.00. My advice is to find a restorable original.
