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Forums10
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Most Online1,258 Mar 29th, 2024
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,544
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,544 |
Oh, I love it when you get personal.
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,216 Likes: 120
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,216 Likes: 120 |
Hi, some very interesting and diverse opinions here, fun to read that's for sure. Again, my 2c worth. I agree with Dig that for the $$ you want to spend a good Brit BLE might be the route to go. SLE are nice, good triggers as a rule,racy looking and a bit of a prestige gun, but mechanically they can be a problem, especially with a vintage gun. BLE's are for the most part bomb proof and are easily fixed by any good Smith. The price range you stated should get you a good decent BLE by a good maker. Something to consider.
Buy the gun and not the name is often said, but lets be honest, name does play a big part in reselling a gun or buying for that matter. A name does mean something. Sure you can find a gun that was made by John Doe that is just as good or better than a H&H Royal, but what one are you going to buy? You will pay for the name regardless of quality. For those who know doubles well, it may not be a huge issue, but for your average guy, he'll take the name before anything else.
One other thing to consider, you may want to check into a 16ga. There are plenty of 29" bbl 16ga guns out there. You can do a search on any of the auction/selling sites and find a lightly used AyA, Arreta or Grullla for your price range. I like 16ga guns and have killed a lot of wild pheasants with them. The difference between a 12ga and 16ga for your average hunter is slight. You can get loads from 1oz up to 1 1/4oz. And if you reload, plenty more.
Fun post!
Good Luck!
Greg
Gregory J. Westberg MSG, USA Ret
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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 |
Without divulging too much I have a number of well made boxlocks and a few hammerguns to boot. I even own one over/under. YIKES! I am just looking for a nice 12 gauge, sidelock in my price range.
The only constant in life is change.
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,216 Likes: 120
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,216 Likes: 120 |
Without divulging too much I have a number of well made boxlocks and a few hammerguns to boot. I even own one over/under. YIKES! I am just looking for a nice 12 gauge, sidelock in my price range. Understand. Looks like some of us are not seeing the forest thru the trees. That said, good luck again! Greg
Gregory J. Westberg MSG, USA Ret
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 8,158 Likes: 114
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 8,158 Likes: 114 |
Well, if you have to have a sidelock and your upper limit is $6,000 I do admit you have chosen a sticky pond from which to get out unscathed. You WILL struggle to find a decent English one at that price.
My advice would be save a bit more and get something good rather than spend what you have on something second rate.
BTW Run with the Fox - my father was born a citizen of the Irish Republic and his father in Kilkea Castle- and his mother, Lady Alice FitzGerald would be turning in her grave at the thought of her descendents being called Limeys by the American born offspring of some exiled bog trotter. Not exiled bog trotters--at least you don't have Lord Boycott in your past peerage-- I'll respect the Limeys when you pull out of Belfast- where my late maternal Great-Grandfather worked as a ship's millwright for Harlan & Wolff from 1890 until 1909, when he came to America-- not too may bogs for him to trot on in that great shipbuilding town and port in the Emerald Isle--He left of his own free will, not exiled as the Limeys did with their "undesirables" and Australia. Your laddy-bucks do crank out a few fine guns, but the best period for Limey craftsmanship ended with the "Guns of August" in 1914- your Country lost many fine trade and craftsmen from 1914 to 1919- thanks in part to your Sandhurstian numbnutted Generals like Haig- and the butcher's bill he caused at the Somme in 1916- My thesis is, and always will be, if you live and earn your living in America, buy an American made gun, and have a qualified master smith (like my friend Buck Hamlin) go over it, and shoot proper light loads if you prefer (as I do- ditto the late Captain Paul A. Curtis) a sidelock over a boxlock--I have 4 LC Smith 12 bores- three are pre-1913 graded guns, one is a 1932 graded gun, all have double triggers, two have selective ejectors, two have manual extractors (or "luggers" as you Limeys like to call them) and they perform for me- on live birds and occasional clays- like a Steinway under the fingers of the late Dave Brubeck-- However, I am not that hard of heart that I would NOT offer my condolences to the Limeys for the recent passing of the late Iron Maiden, Ms. Maggie Thatcher- one tough old broad con cojones hechan de laton, no es verdad?--Not attractive, but neither was the late Eleanor Roosevelt, nor Sir Winston Churchill's Frau either- but in the ball-busting world of international politics, looks don't count- it's performance, and Maggie was a first rate performer in the political arena usually reserved for the Herrenvolk-- Ta ta--
"The field is the touchstone of the man"..
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,544
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,544 |
I meant Mr O'Connor.
But a good reposte all the same !
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,553
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,553 |
Manch', Good luck in your search. Have you considered a fine Belgian Gun, not one of the spurious knock offs, but a real nice old one from one of the quality makers?...you might get more Gun for the $$ Question for my fellow country man Diggory-: Were fine guns ever made in Belgium? If so , what species made them, & more importantly...from what food source? Franc PS If the Chimps were using an aged Dorset Blue Vinny (sic) that had been lightly soaked in a nice old port or sherry,with a a nice crust on it, I might get one Franc
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,373 Likes: 6
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,373 Likes: 6 |
There are a couple of used AyA No. 1s on the market right now in your price range. Materially better gun than the No. 2s and not a gun that would make anyone sensible feel ill to look at.
Such a long, long time to be gone, and a short time to be there.
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 517
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 517 |
I have shot several 28- and 20-gauge sidelocks made by Garbi. They are outstanding guns by anyone's measure.
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,008
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,008 |
Mike Yardley writes, in my opinion, very good gun reviews. He has reviewed a number of AyAs: http://www.thefield.co.uk/search?q=Yardley+AyA&submit=and it might be interesting to those thinking of getting an AyA to look at these reviews. Hope this helps.
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