doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Newby SxS Double Lover

Yes sir… What do you suggest for an American gun? Something reasonable, because I need to save up for a Holland & Holland to satisfy the English choice.

Does it have to be American? In my opinion, you can get considerably more gun for the money, if it is English or German, among others. That will leave more money for the H&H.

Thank you sir, or should I say Danke!
The Franchi is in beautiful condition and the AyA was definitely used but not abused. The Sauer was most likely a mistake, as you said, it was a bottom end gun back then, thus why they plated it to polish the turd, as we say. 😂 So that’ll probably just be a wall hanger and I will get the American (Ithaca maybe) and Holland and Holland one day. I would still love a German SxS or a Ferlach piece.

I’m still learning about the different brands and l am drawn by nice fit/finish and engraving, which costs extra… Maybe I’ll go back to O/U.

My very first double, indeed my very first shotgun, vas a 12 bore Spanish BLNE by Crucelegui Hermanos, a lesser known Spanish maker.

At the age of 16 I just did not know enough to shop around for a sound second hand British gun.

It was sound enough and gave me good service, especially once I had the chokes opened out.

The stamped on engraving (applied without the punches being held square - the top half of a Hunter shooting at half a pheasant) did not improve it.

I have occasionally seen others in Online Auctions in the £5 to £10 estimate range.

I was therefore intrigued to see in the current Holts sealed bids sale, what was clearly their attempt to produce a best grade sidelock ejector:-


CRUCELEGUI HNOS. SRC. EIBAR 12-BORE HAND-DETACHABLE SIDELOCK EJECTOR, serial no. CH81750, for 1972, 28 3/8in. nitro chopperlump barrels,tapered engine-turned rib, gold-inlaid 'CRUCELEGUI HNOS. SRC. EIBAR.', the breech-ends of the tubes engraved with acanthus scrollwork, 2 3/4in. chambers, bored approx. 1/4 and 3/4 choke, treble-grip action with hidden third-bite, removable striker discs, toplever gold-inlaid 'CH', automatic safety with gold-inlaid 'SEGURO' detail, hand-detachable sidelocks, gold-inlaid arrow cocking indicators, articulated front trigger, rolled-edge triggerguard, border, acanthus scroll and floral bouquet engraving, bright finish, 14 1/4in. figured stock, triggerguard gold-inlaid 'No. 81750.', weight 7lb. 2oz

I am curious to know whether the quality meets the ambition of the specification, but with a lower estimate of £250 not that curious, especially when the barrels need striking down and re-blacking.

I can’t post the photos 😠 but if you want a look it is Lot 7003.

Sounds like a nice one… Like my AyA Yeoman, there are some beautiful higher end models made by them. Mine’s extremely basic, with minimal line work and though it was case colored years ago, that was sanded off sometime ago. I like it enough that I might have it redone. I will see what the ‘doctor’ (gunsmith) says, and see if it’s worth the money.