doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com my CSMC experience was…..

I recently made a trip to Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing. My experience was evidently way different than many others experiences discussed here.
I went down to CSMC to look at a 28 Ga SxS. I wanted on one of the new Savage Fox A Grade 28 with C grade engraving pattern. I saw one on Gunbroker and it was gone when I called themn to inquire about it. I spoke with the head of production and he said they had another 28 in the works. A week later I was sent photos and it had screaming full fiddle back American walnut. I said I wanted to come down and check it out before buying. Wanted to see how it felt in my hands and how close the dimensions were to my RBL 28. I really like my RBL Launch 28 but it’s a pistol grip and I wanted straight grip now.

I coordinated a meeting to view the gun and a week later I made the trip . I arrived at the factory showroom and was buzzed in and met at the door by Tony (Galazan). Tony was most cordial and friendly and appreciative of my coming down. (contrary to the way he is commonly portrayed here) He welcomed me and then took me on a tour of the “gun rooms”. Showed me some very interesting shooting galleries from 100 Plus years ago that he had restored and operation. To say it was sensory overload would be a gross understatement. Words cant describe what I was able to see and handle.

We then went through a back door and entered the factory itself. I received a personally guided tour by Tony. He took me everywhere in the plant. I saw every facet of the manufacturing process , machinery, tooling, forgings etc. I saw the guys doing checking, other assembly etc. Tony showed me everything. We talked machinery, production methods etc. Then a tour of the wood room and other details.
Then back to the main gun room. At that point, Tony had to attend to a few things and Lou took over. We looked at the A Grade Savage they had finished up for me. The comb felt a little high for me. I asked Lou if he had any straight grip double trigger RBL 28’s. he took me to the RBL rack and we found one with screaming Turkish walnut with lots of mineral streaks and feather crotch. The RBL had a touch more drop and felt better but had a longer LOP which was too long for me.

I put both guns side by side. What a quandary. It was like trying to choose between Catherine Zeta Jones and Kim Bassinger. Tony came back and the three of us discussed the guns. I said the RBL felt better but the LOP was too long and I wanted 26” and the RBL had 28” barrels. Tony said “no problem, we can cut the stock and fit a new butt plate. I asked “what about the barrels” figuring that a barrel swap would be out of the question. Tony said “you want 26”, ill swap these for 26”. I want you to be completely satisfied with the gun. Give us a few days to get the work done and we will ship it to you ( I have an 07 FFL)
I was pleasantly shocked at how customer driven both he and Lou were. After reading a number of stories here I wasn’t expecting this level of customer service. We made a deal on the gun with case and cover and I left.

Tony and Lou could not have been any nicer, more professional or courteous. There was no rush, no get me out of there since I wasnt spending 50K. I will say unequivocally that it was the most enjoyable gun buying purchase I have made. And the tour as an added bonus. Having had my own gunsmith business for almost 45 years, I, appreciate machinery, manufacturing, gunsmithing, craftsmanship and wood and steel. That tour made my day. The guns were superb. I saw several others that I wanted to buy but held off for now. I will be back. I cant say enough good about Tony, Lou, Rich and CSMC.

I wrote this because I read a number of negative posts about CSMC and felt that a good experience deserves to be posted when it happens. I was treated fairly and made a good deal.

Specs: 26” barrels
14 ¼ LOP
Chokes SK 1 and SK 2
Weight 5 lbs 8.5 oz.

I would not hesitate to buy another gun from Tony and Lou.



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I have always liked Lou. Never had the chance to meet Tony, however.

I hope your new gun shoots and functions as well as it looks, Brian. That long trigger guard tang with no screw is dog nuts.

OK. Cool.

That’s one. Which, is one more than yesterday.

Good luck.

Best,
Ted

Nice gun Brian.
While I have nothing positive to say about either Lou or Tony or my overall CSMC experience,
did you happen to visit their wood blank library? What a show.

I hold Lou and Tony in the lowest regard but refuse to let those feelings cloud my opinion of their
wooden delights. Beautiful stick of wood on your gun for sure.

Brian-
Thanks for your fine report! I was always well treated when visiting the factory as well. A must see visit for anyone in the vicinity.

As mentioned previously, I worked there for a little while. I don’t believe there’s any place like that in the world. He is adamant about making every aspect of gunmaking they perform everything in house. The place is huge. It’s over 3 acres just to build guns I can tell you he has a very loyal workforce and treats the people that work there very well he has thousands and thousands of wood blanks they travel all over and buy them and people come there from Turkey and the Midwest in California to sell them wood. They buy it and dry it there sometimes keeping it for many years I don’t think there’s any place like it as previously mentioned. Your RBL you have is just purchased is really sweet. I love that engraving and I think that’s English wallet on that gun.

I know Tony & Lou from Double Gun shoots, never been to their ''Plant''. I hold them to the ''Highest Regards''.
All ways Friendly and go out of their way for you. I bought many items from them, NO PROBLEMS with them.
I would say that the person's that hold them to the lowest regards are in fact the ''Problem'' them selves.
Being in the gun business as long as they have, they see right thru the Dead Beet Hacks that try to work them over and
can tell the difference between a Pro American and a Liberal in a few conversations.

Dirty Harry

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe — 'You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.'

Brian, I'm very happy that you got a beautiful gun that you wanted. It doesn't surprise me that Tony treated you well.

However, the two times I was there to buy used guns was a different story. I stopped by during the middle of the day and I was in my work clothes, bib overalls.

I guess they judged me by my clothes.

I completely found just the opposite. I went up there in my work clothes with my uncle who lacks hygiene iand social graces. They fixed the gun for us. We didn’t even buy from them right when we waited. And didn’t charge anythingI met Mr. Galazan and he wears a white undershirt and his hands are Black from working if you showed up in your bib and overalls, he probably thought you were some type of social climber if you judge you by your clothes, it wasn’t because you were underdressed. I don’t think he cares about that and I have bought other guns from them. Nothing over $1500. You think I was the king of England coming in.

That is a lovely shotgun. Congratulations.

I also have had excellent experiences with CSM, Tony and Lou. At the April, 2025 Southern Side by Side, I gave Lou my Galazan Fox CE grade that I had ordered in 1995. The right ejector had stopped working. Lou took it in and said to check with him in a week or two. I was impressed with the turnaround comment. In 10 days I had my Fox back in good working order, superbly packed and no charge.

In the past I have had 2 RBL Launch editions. Both really nice guns that I shot well. I sold them for reasons that had nothing to do with the great quality and good looks of either.

Thanks to Lou and Tony and their great team.

Wally