doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Considering a sidelock gun

My advice is don�t make the same mistake I did and pick up and shoulder an English made sidelock if you don�t have the money to buy it. Just look at it and leave it sit. Then go buy an American, Spanish, Japanese or whatever.

I believe that all English, American, Spanish, Japanese, and Belgian make some good and affordable guns. They all also make guns that are not very good or actually affordable.

The English gun is the standard for many today in terms of the weight, balance, mechanics, etc. It is also valued in terms of higher price. That said all those I listed after English make examples of guns that match or exceed them for the money.

A while back I decided to give up on the name English guns not because they were not good, they are good, but because I could get a much better gun for my money chasing after Belgian SLE's.

I believe the same choice could have been made for Spanish or Japanese guns and even some selected German guns.

As many have noted in this thread, the most important factor is how the gun performs with the individual buyer. It is a matter of taste.

Anyone know anything about the Renato Gamba SLE spaggetti guns?

Old Colonel,
Good man!
I am a big fan of Belgian Best..I really like some of their engraving ,their version of Rose n scroll, but different, with longish ribbons weaved through it.Dunno what you'd call it.
cheers
Franc

I have heard it referred to as Banner and Scroll, but I am unsure if that appelation is correct.




1924 16ga Louis Christophe by Jules Bury engragraved by Jules E. Schoffeniels



1924 16ga Louis Christophe by Jules Bury engragraved by Jules E. Schoffeniels



1925 12ga Louis Christophe by Jules Bury engragraved by Jules E. Schoffeniels

Here are two Spanish interpretations of that style - very nice designs but not quite in the same league as M. Schoffeniels' work:





I believe this engraving style shows up on some older Beretta SOs as well.

Doverham you reference "M. Schoffeniels" I know Jules Eugene Schoffeniels'(B.1892, D.1982) father was also a noted engraver, but to date I have not seen any work by him that I can be sure is attributed to him. I believe his father was Jules Mathieu Schoffeniels B.1857, D.?)

I have been lucky enough to have some picture of Jules Eugene Schoffeniels emailed from his grandson Michel.

His grandson held that his great grandfather Jules Mathieu Schoffeniels was a more famous engraver than Jules Eugene Schoffeniels, but could not say much more.

Do you have anything on Jules Mathieu Schoffeniels?

No, I know of him only from your reference (M. was meant to reference Monsieur)

Clearly JES was an engraver of unusual skill - if his father was better, I would love to see his work.

Outstanding banner and scroll by a true Master- do those guns shoot as well as they look? I'll bet they do--

Doverham, I failed to say those guns are quite nice.

In answer to the last posted question I regularly use both guns. The 16 SLE is my primary gun at 6lbs and change with 27in barrels, the 12 SLE is my heavy gun at 7lbs 3oz with 30inch Barrels and Briley tubes.

They by chance and luck are nearly identically stocked.

I feel guilty that I have diverted the focus of this thread. While the discussion of good Belgian guns adds to the information on candidates for a good SLE which would hold resale value. They are examples of quality lesser known makers that do not draw the same price level as their British cousins. However the reality is that if I were interested in selling them I would not draw the money I paid and would lose money on them.