Help with SxS choice

[Markbrowning]

Hello All,

 

 

Thought I would ask for a little help. I quite fancy a Side by Side in the collection, but know little about them. Seems to be a lot of choice, with lots of small time makers to choose from making things difficult.

 

I am hoping I can list a set of requirements and you kind folks help me come up with some suggestions.

 

 

Budget: Around the £1000 mark

 

1) Condition: Good condition (not a restoration project), fully functional and in proof / safe etc

 

2) Nice wood & pretty looking, nice engraving (with side plates if that is possible for the budget).

 

3) Is it possible I can get a English / British gun for this price?? I know Holland & Holland, Purdy, William Powell etc are all too expensive but are there any affordable alternative?

 

4) Preferably ejector

 

5) Am I best going for side or box lock?

 

 

I have a few field guns in my collection, so not looking for a work horse just something nice to own.

 

 

Looking forward to your suggestions! Thanks in advance.

 

Mark

Edited August 29, 2013 by Markbrowning

[Underdog]

At that budget you will have lots of options.

 

U.

[Penelope]

For the money you have, you should be able to get a nice English boxlock ejector by a lesser known or provincial maker.

 

It's unlikely you get an English sidelock though.

[Hector Vector]

That budget will get you a decent English boxlock. Don't get too hung up on the name on the gun. Look for quality instead. Plenty of provincial makers made very nice guns. A good place to look (if you're confident enough) is at auction. Holt's have a sale next month. The catalogue is available and there's a decent selection. I'd be inclined to leave sidelocks alone - you'll get a better by far boxlock at your budget.

[jmoz82]

I was in your shoe's a while back looking for a nice sxs I ended up getting a Winchester mod 23 and have never looked back since !!!!

[BlaserF3]

A decent hammergun will keep it's value and they just look the best type of S/S to me.

[Penelope]

A lot of the guns under provincial makers names were made in the white by the London and Birmingham trades and sold on for finishing to provincial makers.

 

I have a lovely little 1923, D.H.Wallace (Wigton, Cumbira) 12 bore boxlock ejector, that is actually a Westley Richards. Their name is stamped on the fore end metal work.

 

That budget will get you a decent English boxlock. Don't get too hung up on the name on the gun. Look for quality instead. Plenty of provincial makers made very nice guns. A good place to look (if you're confident enough) is at auction. Holt's have a sale next month. The catalogue is available and there's a decent selection. I'd be inclined to leave sidelocks alone - you'll get a better by far boxlock at your budget.

[Guest cookoff013]

go on guntrader and have a butchers.

[wymberley]

At a guess, this will probably not be for serious clay pigeon use. Consequently, seriously ask yourself why an ejector. Not being rude, but with your budget I don't think that you're into 500 day driven birds shooting. Should that be correct, then in reality all an ejector means is that you have to crawl around picking up the empties when, say, for the same model gun with an ejector which costs, say, £1500, you can get the non ejector version for your grand.

[Guest cookoff013]

some newer sxs are selective ejector.

[dougall]

I'm with Wymberley on this even those with ejectors I see stop the shells flying out anyway! Only need ejectors for driven days.

For a £1000 will get a nice British boxlock for that money.Would go for provincial makers as any London gun for that money has issues......If you insist on ejectors then I would say Webley 700,go on guntrader should find a tidy one which with a little haggle will be @ £1000. Don't confuse the old webleys with the modern stuff,proper guns properly made.

[Penelope]

**** ******* writes a good review on the 700 in this month's 'Field'.

 

Why is M ike Y ardley given the ********** treatment?

 

I'm with Wymberley on this even those with ejectors I see stop the shells flying out anyway! Only need ejectors for driven days.

For a £1000 will get a nice British boxlock for that money.Would go for provincial makers as any London gun for that money has issues......If you insist on ejectors then I would say Webley 700,go on guntrader should find a tidy one which with a little haggle will be @ £1000. Don't confuse the old webleys with the modern stuff,proper guns properly made.

Edited August 29, 2013 by Penelope

[DIRTYHARRY]

If you look hard enough you could find a MINT aya no.4 boxlock or even a good condition aya no.2 sidelock. I have a 30 year old aya yeoman and can hit everything with it. I rate aya extremely highly.

[unclestuffy]

I have AYA and Sable too, both are really nice reliable guns. Depends what you are going to us it for too as I use a cheap SXS for rough shooting as it does not matter if it gets weathered and worn and keep the nicer guns for game.

[malantone]

there`s a good selection from £150 to £20,000 on Guntrader

Edited August 29, 2013 by malantone

[jgguinness]

I would go for an AYA No2 for that money. Great guns

[fenboy]

I would go for an AYA No2 for that money. Great guns

The voice of common sense £1000 it has to be a AYA No2

[jgguinness]

The voice of common sense £1000 it has to be a AYA No2

I know the OP's 3rd criteria was for it to possibly an English gun, but as you say, for that money, a side plate, ejector, lovely looking gun that's reliable and won't loose money, it has to be a No.2

 

I currently have a No.4 but when I've squirrelled away enough cash, it will be getting sold and put towards a No.2

[welshwarrior]

I've a no2 for sale in and around that money. Great condition I just can't justify 2 of the them in my cabinet!

 

You won't go wrong with an AYA best British guns around for the money their just not made in Britain.

[malantone]

I've a no2 for sale in and around that money. Great condition I just can't justify 2 of the them in my cabinet!

 

You won't go wrong with an AYA best British guns around for the money their just not made in Britain.

 

I think you`ll find AYA are Spanish made by Aguirre y Aranzabal , still great guns, I`ve just noticed ` there just not made in Britain` sorry

Edited August 29, 2013 by malantone

[Markbrowning]

Thank you all for already a wealth of replies its always much appreciated.

 

I will try to cover people's replies in a oner.

 

I don't necessarily want to spend £1k but would go up to. If I can tick the boxes for less, I would happily and put the rest towards something else.

 

As for looking on guntrader, I already have! That's why I'm here. There are too many options and I don't know enough. Most of my other guns were bought new (Browning & Benelli) so have warranty & pretty much universally regarded. So couldn't go wrong really.

 

In regards to SxS I wasn't sure which makers / brands are well regarded and what if any to stay away from. I wouldn't feel comfortable enough to turn up to an auction just yet.

 

Ejectors - not a must have at all, was a preference. But like you said properly not worth paying over the odds for one. The SxS wouldn't be a serious clay gun, nor my rough gun. For the very odd game shoot but more off just would like a nice piece to own.

 

Currently looking at the provincial makers as suggested and like a couple of the webleys. I have always like the AYA guns they are beautiful & yet affordable. I was initially of the opinion that a nice SxS should be British if can be helped. Still my preference. But if the AYA well regarded and look a lot better for the equivalent British gun

[Catweazle]

What about a Gorosable or Black Sable ?

 

Sidelock, with hand detachable locks for around £500.

 

http://www.saddleryandgunroom.co.uk/Gunroom/web_guns/31566.jpg

 

[vmaxphil]

_{try to do some resurch on the name of English guns as a lot were made by the Birmingham gun trade and gun shops/ironmongers had their name put on them eg "w.w. blogs gunmaker"}

_phil

[Markbrowning]

I've a no2 for sale in and around that money. Great condition I just can't justify 2 of the them in my cabinet!

 

You won't go wrong with an AYA best British guns around for the money their just not made in Britain.

That on gun watch at the moment or just casually saying at the moment?

[welshwarrior]

Not on GunWatch will be going on guntrader in the next week PM if you want photos etc.