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nj gsp
PostPosted: Sun Nov 03, 2024 3:13 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 09 Aug 2007
Posts: 475
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?
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Citori16
PostPosted: Sun Nov 03, 2024 3:56 pm  Reply with quote
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Joined: 19 May 2006
Posts: 399
Location: Too far south in New England

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.

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Dave in Maine
PostPosted: Mon Nov 04, 2024 11:58 am  Reply with quote



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.

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UncleDanFan
PostPosted: Mon Nov 04, 2024 1:36 pm  Reply with quote
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Joined: 06 Apr 2007
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Location: The Great Northwet

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

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gunsrus
PostPosted: Sun Nov 10, 2024 11:13 pm  Reply with quote
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Joined: 19 Jan 2008
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Location: MAINE

Phil Fox A Grade 16 w 28" pipes . restocked to my dimensions , 5lbs 14oz .
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fin2feather
PostPosted: Mon Nov 11, 2024 8:49 am  Reply with quote
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Joined: 06 Aug 2004
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Location: Kansas High Plains

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.

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I feel a warm spot in my heart when I meet a man whiling away an afternoon...and stopping to chat with him, hear the sleek lines of his double gun whisper "Sixteen." - Gene Hill, Shotgunner's Notebook
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nj gsp
PostPosted: Mon Nov 11, 2024 5:36 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 09 Aug 2007
Posts: 475
Location: WI

fin2feather wrote:
Fox Philly A grade 16, 28", 6lbs 4 oz; works just fine for me.


I'm surprised yours is 1/2lb heavier than mine. Must be the wood!
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Riflemeister
PostPosted: Mon Nov 11, 2024 6:39 pm  Reply with quote
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Joined: 27 Jun 2012
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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.

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fin2feather
PostPosted: Tue Nov 12, 2024 8:01 am  Reply with quote
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nj gsp wrote:
fin2feather wrote:
Fox Philly A grade 16, 28", 6lbs 4 oz; works just fine for me.


I'm surprised yours is 1/2lb heavier than mine. Must be the wood!


Lots of variations in these old boomers. Mine's a half pistol and letters at 6lb.4oz. which is right about where I prefer them. Original factory specs show 26" to 32" barrels and weights 5-3/4 to 7lbs. so yours is right in there. What's the barrel length?

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I feel a warm spot in my heart when I meet a man whiling away an afternoon...and stopping to chat with him, hear the sleek lines of his double gun whisper "Sixteen." - Gene Hill, Shotgunner's Notebook
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nj gsp
PostPosted: Tue Nov 12, 2024 8:36 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 09 Aug 2007
Posts: 475
Location: WI

fin2feather wrote:
nj gsp wrote:
fin2feather wrote:
Fox Philly A grade 16, 28", 6lbs 4 oz; works just fine for me.


I'm surprised yours is 1/2lb heavier than mine. Must be the wood!


Lots of variations in these old boomers. Mine's a half pistol and letters at 6lb.4oz. which is right about where I prefer them. Original factory specs show 26" to 32" barrels and weights 5-3/4 to 7lbs. so yours is right in there. What's the barrel length?


28" - the exact weight is 5 lbs 12.4 oz.
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