|
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums10
Topics38,463
Posts545,040
Members14,409
| |
Most Online1,258
Mar 29th, 2024
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 13,149 Likes: 1147
Sidelock
|
OP
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 13,149 Likes: 1147 |
Okay, so we all know how the English gun is held up as the pinnacle of perfection in the shotgun making world, and often it is said things like "The English sure knew how to get it right, they've been at it for a long time". Or, "The English had perfected the shotgun before anyone else even began to figure it out".
Let's examine this for a moment. While I am quite willing to give the English credit where due, and there is much due, just which gunmakers have been around the longest, and arguably the most successfully?
The oldest American gunmaker is Remington, dating it's beginnings at 1816. The oldest English gunmaker that I am aware of is Westley Richards, who it is said began in 1812. Then, where do we go? Let's see ........ well, I guess we must give "honorable mention" to those Italians, eh? The inimitable Beretta, who began supplying the gun making trade in , uh, hmmm, .......oh yes, the year 1526. Getting mighty close to 500 years of continuous gun making.
There should be another word to use to describe Beretta besides "iconic". The word falls short of conveying fully what the company represents. But, age isn't everything, you say. Quality must account for something, too. Can anyone argue that Beretta figured it out a looong time ago? The world is saturated with Beretta doubleguns that just keep on going, and going and going, seldom if ever being returned to the maker, or a gunsmith for repair.
Just who really got it right? All you boys, tighten up your knickers, tilt your sporty driving cap jauntily to the side and give it your best shot. Just who in the gun making field can come close to the reputation and success of the Italian firm Beretta?
SRH
May God bless America and those who defend her.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 15,456 Likes: 86
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 15,456 Likes: 86 |
If Remington had only built guns for Royalty then I suspect they'd be as nice or nicer than a Purdey.
Don't forget Smith & Wesson made all men equal....
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 7,463 Likes: 212
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 7,463 Likes: 212 |
Way to go Stan, kick 'em while they're down. Just kidding, really.
While they have some great guns here and there, I think Beretta is more of a manufacturer than a maker. I suspect if they were primarily makers, they would exist to sustain the name, and would probably be a shadow of some past heyday. I think they stood the test of time because they are first and foremost business people.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,485 Likes: 391
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,485 Likes: 391 |
Way to go Stan, kick 'em while they're down. Just kidding, really.
While they have some great guns here and there, I think Beretta is more of a manufacturer than a maker. I suspect if they were primarily makers, they would exist to sustain the name, and would probably be a shadow of some past heyday. I think they stood the test of time because they are first and foremost business people. We have a winner!
The world cries out for such: he is needed & needed badly- the man who can carry a message to Garcia
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 738
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 738 |
Great Post!
Could it be that the world was different in the 1800's The British made guns for their market.... while the Italians, made guns for the world? The Brits' (and I love them dearly... even though I am 100% Italian), had the world revolving around them or at least that is what the elite of the driven shoot thought.
Just a thought, but my best friend who is a competitive sporting clay shooter says.... walk around any big shoot and your find a bunch of guys with Perrazi's switching their triggers, Kreighof's fiddling with their guns and the Beretta and Browning guns just working without a hitch.
As much as I love the feel of the British guns I have handled, I'll bet they can handle the pounding of a good Beretta at the clay range.
Jerry
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 593 Likes: 12
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 593 Likes: 12 |
Stan, I'm not sure I see you're point. You seem to be saying Beretta are the best firm. But you have also bought British gunmaking into your thinking, alongside Remington and how long the firms have been going. Oh and by the way, it's Anglophile, nothing to do with telephones!
I'll take it that what you're getting at is that you feel Beretta are the greatest. I believe this is an extremely subjective area and that we'd all end up arguing for those firms that we especially like, follow or support. It's much the same as some folk think Bentley is better than Rolls, or Lotus is better than Porsche, or Ford better than GM. Get a pub full of enthusiasts and they'll back whichever firm they feel most interested in, most loyal to or which they've followed for longest. Much the same for followers of football teams - or cricket teams, since you bought the Brits into it!
Either way, it'll make for lively discussion.
Tim
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,084 Likes: 35
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,084 Likes: 35 |
"The world is saturated with Beretta doubleguns that just keep on going, and going and going, seldom if ever being returned to the maker, or a gunsmith for repair."
In Charles Daly's heyday, A&F, VL&D, all these bygone pre-war American sporting goods firms imported fine guns from Prussia, Belgium and Great Britain to sell under their own names. I've seen the old catalogs, I've lusted after Lindners, I own a lovely Francotte made for A&F, etc.
I have to ask, who imported Beretta's into the US before WWII?
My problem lies in reconciling my gross habits with my net income.
- Errol Flynn
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 304
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 304 |
If Remington had only built guns for Royalty then I suspect they'd be as nice or nicer than a Purdey.
Don't forget Smith & Wesson made all men equal....
AND WHAT STRONG DRUGS ARE YOU ON NOW.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,381 Likes: 1
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,381 Likes: 1 |
Okay, so we all know how the English gun is held up as the pinnacle of perfection in the shotgun making world, and often it is said things like "The English sure knew how to get it right, they've been at it for a long time". Or, "The English had perfected the shotgun before anyone else even began to figure it out".
Let's examine this for a moment. While I am quite willing to give the English credit where due, and there is much due, just which gunmakers have been around the longest, and arguably the most successfully?
The oldest American gunmaker is Remington, dating it's beginnings at 1816. The oldest English gunmaker that I am aware of is Westley Richards, who it is said began in 1812. Then, where do we go? Let's see ........ well, I guess we must give "honorable mention" to those Italians, eh? The inimitable Beretta, who began supplying the gun making trade in , uh, hmmm, .......oh yes, the year 1526. Getting mighty close to 500 years of continuous gun making.
There should be another word to use to describe Beretta besides "iconic". The word falls short of conveying fully what the company represents. But, age isn't everything, you say. Quality must account for something, too. Can anyone argue that Beretta figured it out a looong time ago? The world is saturated with Beretta doubleguns that just keep on going, and going and going, seldom if ever being returned to the maker, or a gunsmith for repair.
Just who really got it right? All you boys, tighten up your knickers, tilt your sporty driving cap jauntily to the side and give it your best shot. Just who in the gun making field can come close to the reputation and success of the Italian firm Beretta?
SRH They made and still make very good game guns. You do not have to settle for English game gun if you don't want to. Excellent alternative is quality French game gun. We should remember the French were to game shooting what Samuel Colt was to revolvers.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,381 Likes: 1
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,381 Likes: 1 |
If Remington had only built guns for Royalty then I suspect they'd be as nice or nicer than a Purdey.
Don't forget Smith & Wesson made all men equal....
AND WHAT STRONG DRUGS ARE YOU ON NOW. Didn't Colt 'Peacemaker' make all men equal? I always thought Colt were the original revolvers and Smith & Wesson ones were made to resemble Colt products.
|
|
|
|
|
