16ga.com ~ View topic

WyoChukar,

Have dealt with Kirby in the past, he has good guns. Good luck purchasing the gun you want.

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/860450746

Joined: 21 Mar 2019 Posts: 523 Location: Texas

Nice looking double. Only wish it was a hammer gun. Will keep an eye on this one

Guest

https://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=551160#Post551160

Wyo why don't you consider a Scottish gun to go with Rusty
😀

WJ,

Now there is a novel idea, because I am a Grouse Dog trainer I 2nd that notion!

Pine Creek/Dave
Pine Creek Grouse Dog Trainers

George Ryman's Pa Grouse Dog with L.C. Smith's 16 gauge shotgun, my great American guns and dogs.

Joined: 16 Jul 2015 Posts: 2126 Location: Hudson,Wy

I thought about that. The Scottish guns I looked at were above my price range. If I don't stop missing out on work at my one job because of this ridiculous Coronavirus scare, I might not be buying anything.

Member Joined: 09 Jan 2013 Posts: 2170 Location: Florida

Joined: 17 Jan 2014 Posts: 1381 Location: Denver, Colorado

Kirby is a very good source of interesting guns. I've bought from him in the past and would again. Scottish guns do seem to command a premium. They are usually a bit lighter than their British counterparts and can be finished very attractively. My brother has a fairly plain one in 20 that I insisted that he buy a few years ago. He still has it.

Member Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 592 Location: Minnesota

http://www.champlinarms.com/Default.aspx?tabid=30&ctl=GunsDetails&mid=409&StyleID=10&GunID=3231

A nice clean 16 SLE that I have actually handled. Last I heard the online listed price was not correct and closer to the upper $2k range with wiggle room. Might be an option for you if a light weight SLE meets your objectives.

It's been said over the past 10 years that the best bargain in a quality double is a BLNE gun from the UK made between WWI and WWII. And has also been said, buy the gun, not the name. I have done business with both Kirby and Charlie (Hill Rod and Gun) and both carry fine products. They are retail, but don't be shy about negotiation. The market is soft on 12 ga. A typical gun will be choked C/F. Shorter barrels are less expensive than 28+". Despite labeling "Scotland", the action and barrels were often made in Birmingham, but there are guns that were made lock, stock and barrel in Scotland, but you'll pay for the Dickson and McNaughton guns. Guns made on the ubiquitous W&S 700 action don't have a replaceable hinge pin. However with the refinement of TIG welding, keeping a gun on face without replacing the pin is now a standard technique and a long lasting solution. The Brits have a different idea than Americans regarding re-conditioning. Many of the Brit guns have been refinished at some point in their 90-100 year old lives. It was not uncommon for owners to send the gun back to the maker during the off season for stripping, cleaning and cosmetic work.
While this is death to the value of American guns among collectors, not so with the Brits. The British Isles, and not just Scotland and England or only cities London and Birmingham, produced fine shotguns.
I note that Kirby currently has listed interesting guns from Wales and Ireland. I spoke with him two weeks ago and he is expecting a shipment of about 50 guns from the UK any day now. Good luck. Gil

I've been to Kirby's gun room in Wenatchee and there's just nothing like handling a gun in person. He has some seriously drool worthy guns there. I keep looking for the great white whale of guns, and thought I found it with my underlever 16 Belgian, but now I'm going to have to keep looking. A light Brit gun might be a good option, or I may just give up and get an Iside that I can customize to my heart's content.

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/shotguns/shotguns-16-gauge/joseph-lang-16ga-2-3-4in-boxlock-ejector-very-nice.cfm?gun_id=101402802

Joined: 16 Jul 2015 Posts: 2126 Location: Hudson,Wy

I've actually looked at all of these listings and have my eye on some that are not mentioned here, but...this Coronavirus thing probably just ended my regular job for a while, so I am on hold at the moment.

The good news is that I may improving my situation as a result of that. A friend has been after for about 5 years me to partner with him farming in North Dakota. His kids weren't interested in farming and moved away to pursue other careers in welding and aircraft. I called him this week and told him I would. Just waiting on the details.

I will still be writing my magazine articles either way.