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4 members (al, LeFusil, lagopus, 1 invisible),
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Forums10
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 517
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 517 |
Greg, that's a Mortimer & Son, 86 George St., Edinburgh. It's built on a Webley screw grip action and is an ejector gun. Weighs 6 pounds, 12 ounces with 30'' barrels.
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,800 Likes: 567
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,800 Likes: 567 |
There are a lot of British doubles in America already. Buy the gun not the name. Each of the makers on your list made guns that should be right up your alley. You can find a worn out British double for less than two grand but do not waste your money. The search is half of the fun. If you can get to Las Vegas for the Winter show you can spend a couple days just looking and handling dozens of guns on your list. Find a good selection and pick the best shape gun you can afford. Do not fall in love with a Name gun with problems. They can be real money pits and a bargain gun gun could become the most expensive mistake that you will make this year.
I spent 20 years looking for one gun. Saw several with major or minor problems that I passed on. Finally found the perfect gun and bought it. Funny thing is that I never shot it worth a darn. But because my gun was in perfect condition I did manage to sell it for ten grand more than I paid for it after three years. Had I bought one of the earlier ones, with issues, I would have been luck to get my money out of it. The web is full of dealers with guns that they have had for years because they have minor of major problem. Do not take one of them off their hands.
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,243 Likes: 181
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,243 Likes: 181 |
Excellent advise all around, thanks and please keep these resposese coming, with each one you learn something.
Thanks!
Greg
Gregory J. Westberg MSG, USA Ret
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,257
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,257 |
gjw: In my youth, I was subject to may lessons from parents, grandparents, teachers and other adults that cared to pass on their lessons to me. Some I took to heart and have been the better man for having remembered. Others, I passed off as not worth my time. Now that I am old man, it is so easy to think that what I say is wise and worthy of recognition. Perhaps this is true and perhaps it is just the ego of a man of old age, that wishes youth to learn and profit. I will venture to say, to you, that what KYJon has stated is so vitally important in the quest of a shotgun, that to ignore his sage advice is to play the fool. BUY THE GUN !!!! The gun, either in your hand or in the hand of an agreeing smith of competence. To do otherwise is to play a game that you are certain to lose. I hope that you are sincere in asking for guidance. If so, you have it here. If not, have a nice day. Best, John
Humble member of the League of Extraodinary Gentlemen (LEG). Joined 14 March, 2006. Member #1.
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,243 Likes: 181
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,243 Likes: 181 |
Thanks again John, I always enjoy your posts. It's fun to get others opinions and advise, as I said you always learn alot. English guns are something new to me (I have a very deep abiding love for spanish doubles). Just like spanish guns, there is junk and jewels and in between. Even the best of makers, turn out clinkers, I think W.W. Greener, who made guns all across the board said of one export, "I only say that it will go bang once."
I like to get the input from folks who really have or had a gun and can give good solid advise thru personal experience. Books are great, but the real deal is the real deal.
My problem is, is where I live, NoDak has no real Fine Gun Shops, so one is forced to buy thru other sources, i.e. the net. Thats why I sometimes ask about a maker or gun that I have no chance to ever hold prior to buying it (inspection period always!!). I have bought some guns in the past that have been great deals thru the net, much better than I expected, then again, I've had a couple that went right back. For me its a crap shoot, but thru folks like you, I can try to make an informed decision and try and cut thru the junk and find that jewel.
Thanks again so much, it really is appreciated!!
God Bless!!
Greg
Gregory J. Westberg MSG, USA Ret
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,257
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,257 |
gjw: Your stock has risen in my estimation. Not that should mean much.:} Have some fun. Look all over the net for interesting guns. Look at the Guns for Sale here. Heat up your email asking questions and make the phone lines hum. It can be a both an education and some fun to shop this way. Quite frankly, I have not been satisfied more than disappointed with the guns that I have bought on line. I have been mostly pleased with those bought via the BBS sites. The guys that have bought from me have also been pleased. It might be worth a lot to go to this forum's site--Guns for sale and place an ad. WTB---Damn good English BLE that will please me. List the specs that you require and I will bet a Yankee Dime that you have one in hand before the next bird season. And one that makes you smile every time you take it out for a fondle.:} Best, John
Humble member of the League of Extraodinary Gentlemen (LEG). Joined 14 March, 2006. Member #1.
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,250
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,250 |
A great deal of Westley's guns were for export, and they could be quite rough at times. The shop of Wm. Evans, sold to London shooters and had imho a better finish to their entry level guns.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 9,350
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 9,350 |
Greg, I've never had a hankering for an English gun but bought a 1913 12 gauge Army and Navy in really good shape bores, blue, wood and 60 per cent cc for $600 several years ago. Choked IC/IM and perfetc fit for me, I did well with it in the blind yesterday. The gun sold originally for seven pounds seven shillings. It's possible the gun may have been made by one of your listed makers, I think. I bought the gun for what it was, not the maker, the rule of sages everywhere.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,464 Likes: 133
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,464 Likes: 133 |
Greg, when it comes to boxlocks, it's highly unlikely that William Evans was a "maker" at all. They did market well-made boxlocks, but the guns were made "in the trade" for them, by others. And you might end up paying more for the Evans name and London address than you would for, say, a Scott of equal quality and condition.
It's great to know exactly who made your gun, and when. But with a lot of very solid British boxlocks, that's impossible. I feel really fortunate to have a pair of Army & Navy doubles, Scott-made guns, in the original case which bears the original owner's initials. And, because the A&N records are available, I know both when they were made and the name of the original owner--who happened to be sufficiently famous (a British general) so I could learn more about him as well. But that's a pretty unusual case.
More often, you buy a gun about which you may be able to glean some basic information (like who made it and approximately when), and that's about it.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 28
Boxlock
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Boxlock
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 28 |
Jackson Armory in Dallas has a nice Webley, with drop points, restored condition and within described price range. I have a couple W&S which have proved reliable.
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