doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Looking for an honest double

I agree with Chuck.
If you are going to shoot the gun a lot and want a vintage one. Any of those mentioned would fit the bill nicely (Parker, Fox Ithaca Flues or NID). And with a $3k budget. You can buy something really nice, or maybe keep a bit for yourself afterwards. The biggest question is if you want something of a higher grade. $1,500 - 2k should buy you any very nice lower grade Parker such as a V, G or D grade, Sterlingworth, A or B grade Fox. And at your budget, bells and whistles such as single triggers and ejectors would not be out of the question.

Ejectors yes. Single triggers no. A NID would be great. Or a Fox, but not in the higher grades, out of my budget.

I learn towards the Ithacas- like the LC Smiths, very many more made than the fine AH Fox guns- so the law of supply and demand works in your favor- I also agree with the other posters before me here- Smiths are prone to wood splitting in the locks and tangs, possibly more so in the post 1913 era- but not 100% on that- Between the two Ithaca series - the Flues 1905-1924 and then the NID- 1924-1948 (aprox) in the same configuration- gauge. stock, barrel length- the Flues will usually weigh a bit less- and if you use low pressure loads (under 1200 fps) a Flues will hold up just fine-

I have a lead on a Flues 12 field 28" M&F with double triggers, ejectors and original buttplate and capped pg stock-

I prefer my pre-1913 Elsies in 12- but I shoot light loads in them- It all depends on your wants and budget- I don't know enough about British or European doubles to comment here-

The most important thing is knowing what your dimensions are and what fits you. Don't stay from it or else it will not be the gun for you.
If you have something now that already fits you that you shoot well, try to copy what that gun has in whatever you buy. Doesn't matter if it is just some Mossburg 500 or a plain old single shot. Last thing you want to do is spend a bunch on something that you can't hit anything with, or have to put more into it for stock modifications and such.

Words of Wisdom, Mr. D-- John Barsness in his book on shotguns and their usages for bird and waterfowling said about the same thing- buy the gun in the gauge you prefer that fits you-and has good mechanics- Buying a high grade gun with fine wood and engraving but with too short a stock, too much down pitch and or drop at both heel and comb- you'll spend a King's ransom getting it restocked to fit you- and you'' NOT have the gun in hand all the time it is with the gunsmith- and the more you shoot and handle a good shotgun that fits you properly- inclusing off season clays and pest birds awing-the better field shot you will have the potential to become, with that gun--

also, while you are thinkin about buyin, you should also be thinkin about sellin...and in an economy even worse than what we are currently experiencing...

I don't follow you-- if a man says he is looking for an honest double under $3000 (if I read his post correctly) that tells me he has up to that figure available in cash money-doesn't mean he plans to maybe spend all of it-- So where do you get the idea he should also consider sellin' in this rather crappy sellers market. I don't buy guns to re-sell (unless their are parts-out guns, and even there I am very choosy) I buy them to shoot--that's what they were made for, and by God and the good Saint Harry- I intend to to that with them as long as I can- I do have lines out on a few Ithaca 12's with DT-- I think the Flues and the NID Ithacas are real "sleepers" as compared with the prices being asked for Parkers, LC Smiths and AH Fox guns- and I won't even mention the Limey doubles- they are so far outta my reach--anyway--lotsa good field 12 side-by-sides with DT out there for under a grand- just have to be patient-

My opinion: The best deal on an honest gun are the pre-war German guns. Here are a couple and there hundreds more out there:

This is a Charles Daly made by Sauer:
http://www.pugsguns.com/findItem.action?id=2399

This is a Heym. Has a horn trigger guard though:
http://www.pugsguns.com/findItem.action?id=2389

Best,

Mike

Mike's right, especially that Heym for only $1,600.00 for a 6 1/2 lbs. 12 gauge. Sweet!!!

I'll second that, from just looking and using my 1914 Sauer.