doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com What is the golden era of SxS guns?

What do most people consider the golden era of SxS guns from the high end English makers. Is the period of 1890 to 1915 close?

Thanks.
Ken

I would say so. Maybe even go back ten years earlier than that too, around 1880. During that time frame it seems to me that most of the really important innovations were starting to gain foothold and by the end of 19th century and in the very early years of the new century, pretty much perfected. I'm no expert, just my opinion.

Dustin

The golden era was an Edwardian thing, and really starting with the London patent Sle gamegun. 1900-WWI

What is the golden era of SxS guns?

Right now.

• Buy a golden era original - the world's inventory is on your PC
• New best guns, custom ordered and hand made, from LG's big 3, the continent or CSMC, and plenty of flush buyers to keep the craftsmen busy
• CNC factory guns that are pretty darn good, B-guns and RizziniB/CGs come to mind
• Truly cheap SxSs from the emerging countries

I confused barrel orientation in the CNC example above, but you get the pernt.

Yeti, You have nicked the matter. High quality modern steel, CNC production and we are in the pink of the double gun era. Not cheap for the best quality but it never was cheap. It is the lower cost guns that are better now. Let the games begin! David

1917 to 1945. Between the two wars. Some beautiful guns were built in Europe, the US and Britain, hand engraving was still the fad, black powder gave way to smokeless and steel was getting close to perfect.

Jim

I would agree with the answer above from Jim Moore.

Before reading the responses to the original post / question I was thinking just as Yeti stated. The number of options out there now is almost numbing. In every price range.

If I were looking for a gun from the 'Golden Era,' I would be looking for something made just before WWI.

Lou M

Burr! Its cold out here. Winter arrived!

I think a modern day Greener built by David and Richard would be as near to perfection as you could have or ever get.Peter Nelson,Dave Sinnerton, Tony White, John & Brian Wiseman (now there is a nugget)all spring to mind, but at what cost and timeframe? Answer= phenominal cost and when it is right it will be ready timeframe.
Which sends us back in time to a Dickson, Harkom, Woodward, or best of all a Beesley.IMHO

No such thing as a'Golden Era' in my opinion.

The best craftsmen from any era would stand comparison with the best from any other.

Depends what you want- if you want a stocked to the fences hammerless bar-action sidelock with top-lever, intercepting sears, ejectors, steel barrels and a single trigger then you have to look to around 1910-1939 for everything now considered 'modern' to be in place and working proprerly. Post WW2 production can be variable but the best is as good as pre-was stuff.

One reason the WW1 - WW2 era is so lauded is that there are lots of guns from that era around in good condition. A lot of earlier stuff got shot to pieces or handed on to gardeners and the like.

Take one of these pre-war guns by a 'best' maker and you have a top quality gun which you can still buy for a reasonable price (relative to a new one with the same spec and quality).

Take apart an 1870 hammer gun of quality and you will struggle to find better work and attention to detail. you could argue that the aesthetic never exceeded the 1870s hammer gun, As I say, it depends on what you like and what you appreciate.

The

'Golden Era' is to my mind the lazy shorthand of a salesman trying to get more for a gun he is trying to sell and a comforting cliche that stands no real examination. a gun is as good as it is regardless of when it was made.

Consider each one you see accordingly and forget about 'Golden Eras'.