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Forums10
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 466
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 466 |
Smallbore......Showing your bias are you?
There are probably more new Spanish guns sold in England than English guns.
Last edited by Patriot USA; 04/20/13 03:19 PM.
Don't sacrifice the future on the altar of today
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,982 Likes: 106
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,982 Likes: 106 |
If you can afford it I would recommend finding a sound English or Belgian sidelock. Many Italian sidelock guns are cost prohibitive (but very nice) and I believe resale is easier with English as opposed to Spanish. Some of the Belgian guns are top shelf and pretty reasonable. I think Old Colonel it was who just had a Belgian double rifle posted on this web site. He bought it pretty reasonably and it appeared to be a very fine bar action sidelock with intercepting safety sears, Holland and Holland style locks, and fabulous engraving. Kinda wish I would have seen that one first before the colonel ;-).
Socialism is almost the worst.
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 190 Likes: 11
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 190 Likes: 11 |
Well as expect there are lots of opinions but that' s what I asked for. " made out of cheese" eh..... Well Dig has often opined that non-English are all just rubbish.
What I'm finding is that at this price point, many Brit guns are either sleeved or have short barrels, neither of which I am interested in.
The reasonable quality (AyA, Arrieta, Grulla, etc.) Spanish guns I am looking at appear to have stamped, or chased engraving, a plus point for English guns. Most have short barrels too.
I have found two English third-tier candidates but both have had their chambers lengthened and not were not reproofed. Okay as a shooter but if I were to resell it later, I can already hear the buyer calling fowl and trying to nock off another $1k. Funny how sellers can overlook this point until they become buyers. The same would be for sleeved barrels.
Another observation I've made is that there are lots of guns in this range with 26, 27, or 28" barrels. Not many with my requisit 29-30" barrels.
Also, I'm hesitant to go with Belgian, French or German guns. I have seen their prices stagnant for years, even though they produced a quality product. I had to nearly give away a Francotte Grade 45 (Eagle) with 30" barrels, so I'm not going down that road again.
Last edited by muchatrucha; 04/20/13 06:14 PM.
The only constant in life is change.
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,432 Likes: 34
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,432 Likes: 34 |
You might look at Brit hammer guns. Fun and affordable.
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 245
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 245 |
Small Bore,
chimps? Maybe the ETA guys, but the Basque gun artisans aren't. They work at a level that may not be of your liking (not me either), but they have their well earned share of the custom market, including Britain.
Muchatrucha,
Any of the three mid-high Spanish gunmakers will do in my opinion (Grulla, AYA & Arrieta), keeping in mind that second resale will be at a loss, but less that first resale. As to barrels in the 29-30" bracket, maybe is too soon for them to appear in the 2nd. hand market yet.
Regards,
EJSXS
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,091 Likes: 588
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,091 Likes: 588 |
I'm going to have to disagree with Mr. Hadoke on this one. I've shot an Arrieta for a dozen years now, on all kinds of game and in all sorts of places, and I have zero complaints. Most barrels are 28-inch on Spanish guns, but longer isn't impossible to find. If you're worried about resale, buy a good used gun and take good care of it. You shouldn't see much of a loss on it, if any, when you are done with it. With all of the problems in the EU these days, new versions of these guns won't be getting any cheaper.
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,018 Likes: 50
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,018 Likes: 50 |
consider belgian SLE's. While Francottes tend to be priced high the most of the pack is not necesaarily so and many good values can be found.
You have to be wary on all old gun buys regardless of where and from who, but that said there are many good options out there.
Michael Dittamo Topeka, KS
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,544
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,544 |
You put your price point at an upper limit of $6,000. That gives you the ability to buy a very fine English boxlock ejector with original steel barrels of whatever length you can find. It will be a better gun than any Spanish gun in both material quality and workmanship. Buy the right gun. don't worry about resale now - that will take care of itself. You are not doing this to make a profit - if you buy the right gun, you won't want to sell it anyway. Sure I have a bias. It is based on my experience - no different to anyone else here. My experience is that I have never compared a Spanish gun to an English one without the Spanish one being objectively inferior. Perhaps the fact that I handle English guns all day every day makes me more sensitive to quality. If that is bias - I am indeed biased. My advise, which is all I am giving, bias included, still stands. You don't have to take it
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 9,350
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 9,350 |
Bias is a good thing, nothing to apologize for. Critical judgement can't be developed without it.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 9,350
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 9,350 |
Yes, old colonel, $800 got me a beautiful Francotte with distinguished provenance. I sent it off to member newf to refreshen checkering and do his magic on almost imperceptible crack left side of wrist. Good guns are showing up every day for those with the patience to wait for them, as you do.
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