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Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 476 Location: WI

I’ve been carrying my usual suspects since my bird season(s) opened on September 15th - a 16ga Browning Superlight Feather, and my newish favorite, the 1922 L.C. Smith Specialty Grade I picked up at auction a few years ago. At 6-1/2 lbs, it’s close to 3/4 lb heavier than the SLF, but carries and feels “light”. Call it balance or whatever, but the ol’ Elsie feels good in the hands.

Except for one thing, and that is it’s not that comfortable to carry with one hand. During the 3-1/2 hour drive home last night from “up nort” I was remembering what a joy my A.H. Fox A Grade was to carry by comparison, and when I got home I pulled my other favorite classic double out of the safe and lined them up - side by side side by sides, if you will…

And the difference is readily apparent - the Fox, being a boxlock, has less metal and rounder corners. While not a round body gun, it fits the hand much more comfortably than the sharp corners of the Elsie. The 3/4 lb difference in weight is also understandable as the Fox has a lot less metal, and less complicated wood.

The Smith has much prettier wood, but has a short LOP - 13-1/2” vs 14-1/4” for the Fox. I use a Tourbon leather slip-on butt pad/cover for both guns when it’s T-shirt weather, but take it off the Fox when it’s time for a jacket.

I am blessed to have both of these American classic doubles in my collection, and it’s a constant struggle deciding which one comes with me. They are both “fair weather” guns as I do not like to take them out when it’s raining, and that’s what the Browning is for.

Next trip north I’m taking the Fox, although I always forget about the second trigger the first few times I shoot it. Maybe I’ll take all three…

What’s your favorite classic 16 double, and why?

Well, since I only have 2, a Flues and a New Empire, it’s an easy choice…the 1921 Flues 1-1/2. Before I bought the Citori, it was my number one. It was my first “real” grouse gun…classic lines, relatively light (compared to my 311), modest engraving, and very quick pointing. I made some incredible shots with it, though to be fair the bird population gave me plenty of opportunity, and time has erased most of the misses from memory.

It sat in the safe with a broken top lever for a couple decades, but recently has become shootable again. I’m going to replace the stock with some nice figured wood and have the barrels reblued. It will never be sold so I’m not worried about it being original, though I do intend to keep the original wood.

You have some very nice classics there. I will eventually get some just like them, those are about perfect. Then I may have a harder decision on a favorite American classic double. But for now I am fixing what I intend to keep before I start buying more.

Joined: 12 Sep 2010 Posts: 1987 Location: Maine

French guild gun. 5 lb 8 oz.
But there is also the BUHAG drilling, 16 x 16x 8x57R. The French gun carries light and shoots well. The drilling puts the smack down.

This is a major reason I like round body hammer guns, especially small frame round body back action ones. Carry comfort is amazing.

Member Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Posts: 683 Location: MAINE

Phil Fox A Grade 16 w 28" pipes . restocked to my dimensions , 5lbs 14oz .

Since I'm about 25 pounds overweight I find it hard to worry about a few ounces on a shotgun Very Happy

. Fox Philly A grade 16, 28", 6lbs 4 oz; works just fine for me.

Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 476 Location: WI

Member Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 1135

This thread about carry comfort got me thinking about the guns I've been using as my go-to guns recently. The two guns that get the nod most often are my 16 ga Upland Gun Company Zeus and my Fausti DEA 16 ga Nickel edition. I shoot both guns equally well and they weigh within ounces of each other, but most often I go with the Zeus. After reading the comments here, I looked a bit closer at the two guns and the Zeus has a nicely rounded frame on the bottom of the receiver and the DEA has a couple of what looks like integral side plate extending below the profile of the frame that concentrate the weight of the gun on two narrow strips on your hand.

I had unconsciously made my choice for the more comfortable gun to carry. I guess it definitely made a difference for me.

Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 476 Location: WI