16ga.com ~ View topic

*Last edited by revdocdrew on Fri Dec 22, 2006 6:10 pm; edited 2 times in total*

Quoting an article by Diggory Hadoke on p. 13 of the Winter 2006 Double Gun Journal
"Well, the overwhelming trend of the moment is the resurrection in the market of 16-bore shotguns.
As with the hammer-gun market in the mid-1990s, we can look to our foresighted American cousins as the driving force in this revival. Ever ready to spot a bargain and exploit an anomaly, (anomaly Question

) American buyers have swooped on the 16 bore, which had languished in the bargain bucket of the British gun trade for around fifteen years.
For years, the poor old sixteen lacked the status of the 'must have' 20 bore and was again bypassed when the next trend emerged for the rare and over-priced 28 bore. Then, all of a sudden, people began to recognise that the 16 bore is a real performer. It handles an ounce of No. 7 with wonderful efficiency and offers a good alternative to the shooter who wants a gun lighter than his standard 12 bore but without suffering the price-premium, or the ballistic shortcomings, or the 20 bore.
Now, being a 16 bore adds 15 percent to the value it would command were it a twelve!"
(I'd say 15% is a low end estimate)

Gee-ain't it great to be cool again? Very Happy

Member Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 3438 Location: Illinois

If only more writers,shooters and the reloading industry agreeed.

Member Joined: 01 Feb 2006 Posts: 450 Location: Indiana

What about Downrange .They seem to be alert to the fact that their is some money to be made here. Especially if your the first to be really serious about the 16ga shooter.

I was motivated enough to bring over some of these great old English 16 bores that I established funds in a bank account in England for Diggory to buy at will on my behalf. After months of looking high and low at the big and small auctions and regional game fairs we concluded as stated above that the boat has sailed. Out of 16 small bore guns listed in the big fall Sotheby's sale that I asked Dig to look into there were three that were worth going after due to condition. Those three sold at an average od 30% above th high pre-auction estimate.One at 50%.

FYI- Diggory is a reliable and reputable chap to deal with.

One word of caution. There are a lot of cool attractive English guns on the market in the U.S. right now in the seemingly attractive range of 2k - 6k.
Look them over VERY carefully and do not buy anything without reliable wall thickness measured.

Having said all that grab em if you can find a good one there a blast.

Cheers,

Brad

Member Joined: 26 Apr 2005 Posts: 743

Maybe 16's were bargains in England until fairly recently, but those days ended in this country at least a decade ago, if not longer. And while decent British 12ga game guns (which, generally, weigh and handle pretty much like American 16's) are often good buys, Brit 16's have brought quite a premium over here for a long time.

Member Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 602 Location: western pa

Ain't it wonderful when common sense finally prevails? Very Happy

Joined: 11 Jan 2006 Posts: 311