doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Renewed English Boxlock guns

I have done just what John describes to four English guns and I love them. Not everybody's cup of tea but it was my choice.

I have also done a few American doubles and I like them as well.

I left my Lefever alone as well as a Fox SW with a lot of case color.

Toby Barclay does move his stuff and I would encourage John to look into it farther.

Just my two cents, Gordon

John, give it a go, test the market. I think you will do just fine.

John, if you mentioned a price range, I missed it. I think the pricerange contains the answer to your question. As to the aftermarket type boxlock cases, I don't think they add much value. Maybe vintage ones do, but not much except in special instances.

There is a market for what you are thinking about doing. To make it work you will need someone to buy the guns for a good starting price, then over see the work needed. No doubt, with out workers, it can be done for far less over there than over here. Then shipping in job lots to keep shipping expenses done should be easy for you to figure out. As a plus you can adjust the number and timing of your inventory to hit the peak interest times of the year.

Try ten guns for a target sample and see how they sell. Most of us here will be only a modest interest in what you are offering but it is a small niche market. The bottom feeders will drool, the fellows with a hundred guns will look with interest. Well, they might be your best market, come to think of it. You got to play to win.

If you did only 16's and 20's you would probably do well....12's would be overpriced after the clean up and cosmetics ....?..........New cases would not be worth the effort or cost in my opinion.....

Best,

No money in it.

First off, where are you going to buy mechanically solid guns with good bbls for a bout 1/3 of what they're worth?

If you know where there's a steady supply of these, let me know. Believe me, you're not the only guy looking for them, either here or in the UK. IF you get them out of the UK, shipping/fees will eat up another 1/3. You'll be 2/3s into these guns before you touch them. That's leaves 1/3 for fixing them up and profit. That's thin.

Second, why bother "restoring" them? Doing it right costs too much. Guys simply won't pay the money it would take to make the ROI worth your time.

Finally, the market for English boxlocks is just not that strong. Check out these guns:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=180690570

http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=196171#Post196171

Those are all original guns at very fair prices. The guys can't sell them.

How are you going to sell warmed over stuff if they can't move those doubles?

OWD

Isnt this kinda what Hill Rod & Gun has been doing for years now? They don't "fully" restore the guns they import, but they get them up to proper working order (put back on face, springs, etc). I think if a person was to buy the guns at low auction prices, put a little work into them, there is money to be made, no doubt about it. I think this is precisely what Dig does when he finds guns on the cheap isn't it??

Dustin

Thanks guy, great input. Larry I was thinking of this because though the aya #453 is a great gun, there are folks that love English gun and might rather have one than a Spanish gun. I would only do 16 or 20 bores unless there was really something special with a 12. However, I think now after taking to one of my friends who is a major English gun buyer in the US and a national known dealer this maybe be not such a good idea. My conversations with them today and yesterday may have changed my mind and with your kind replies that also helped.

I appreciate IT!!!!

Thanks fellows

More to follow. I might get a wild hair and try one or two

Best!

John Boyd

I personally think it is a great idea. There are so many things that can go unoticed in English guns. I know from experience, I bought a few myself and I am no expert. I recently bought a nice sidelock by a well known London maker with new barrels made in Birmingham.I did not know they were replacemnet barrels and the dealer failed to mention it. Well everyone on this side of the pond threw rocks at it. But over there things like that are looked upon as no issue.
To have a well known dealer like John sell them I would beleive you would get a honest answer and up front on any issues.

I agree Mike, I think its a good idea... unless its just too expensive to do it.

In most cases, I wouldn't re color case them. I like the looks of worn CC. Gives it character. Stock refinishing with a checkering redo is good. Re-blacking the barrels and opening up the chambers maybe? Once its all down, throw it in a low-end case.

What do good but worn Birmingham boxlocks go for at auction?

Adam