16ga.com ~ View topic

Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 127 Location: Alabama

All...I know there has been numerous discussions here on the double guns shops that do the best job at serving our favorite gauge. I tried a few searches and came up empty. I was hoping some of you could give me links to those discussions. I'm familiar with a few of the more prominent shops but wanted to make sure I didn't overlook any decent options. Half the fun is the hunt right! Razz

In particular I'm looking to add a SXS to my stable if that helps at all. I'm partial toward the used group as opposed to the new stuff. However, I took ownership of a customer O/U from Upland Gun Company last year and have been most impressed. That's a 6 month process unfortunately though and I'm not as young or patient as I used to be Shocked

Any help is greatly appreciated.

HL

*Last edited by Chicago on Sun Apr 16, 2023 2:46 pm; edited 1 time in total*

Have you tried Vintage Doubles?

vintagedoubles.com

Good Hunting,
Mike

Joined: 26 Apr 2010 Posts: 3178 Location: NCWa

I've purchased from Kirby @ Vintage Doubles- he lives about 25 miles downriver from me, so if you want me to follow-up on something that he has, I'd be happy to.

Harry_Orwell,
I agree Kirby has one of the best double gun shops in the USA, I have dealt with him several times. I missed a pristine L.C. Smith #2 12 gauge gun he had up for sale on GI for real decent money, somebody beat me to it. Never had one problem of any type, when dealing with Kirby. I purchased my early 1800's 16 gauge J.P. Sauer Best Grouse gun, hand made in Germany long ago, on a Sauer 20 gauge frame. Kirby advertised the gun in the Shooting Sportsman Magazine, I purchased it immediately.

For me the other great double gun store is the Guns International on the Net, they have great vendors fully vented, I have never had a problem purchasing double guns listed on GI, the inventory for Best German & Classic American double guns is fantastic.

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Joined: 30 Sep 2019 Posts: 145 Location: Colorado

Mike Jensen’s Gun Room in the Kansas City suburb of Olathe.
I’ve never been there that he didn’t have 100’s of SxS’s.

Olathe Gun Shop - 913-782-6900

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

Kirby recently received the biggest shipment of guns from England he has ever taken in. His inventory is impressive.

I've been in Jensen's gun room in that store in Olathe. It's pretty impressive. He's a lot prouder of his offerings than Kirby though. A large number of the Olathe guns can be viewed on Gun Broker. A few guns that I was interested in, didn't seem to be such a wise purchase once they were in my hands. That said, I would happily go spend time looking again.

Fall Creek,

I agree the Olathe Gun Shop is one of the best double gun shops in the USA, unfortunately I have only been in the store 2 times when we were going Quail hunting.
Very impressive Gun Shop, I wish he had a store in Pa.

The Shooting Stars Gun Shop in Ohio has a good inventory of double guns also.
Kens shop is no where near the size of Kirbys or Olathe, however if you can get him to sell you a double gun from his private collection you will end up with a Best gun for sure. I wanted his 16 gauge Purdey pre 1910 Self opener with the Hodges breech work very badly! All of his private gun collection is very impressive.

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Joined: 25 Jan 2014 Posts: 229 Location: MN

I know nothing about this place, except that it is in MN like me. I shoot well used pump guns.

Puglisi's in Duluth

http://puglisiguns.cloudapp.net/

fourth town,

Pugs guns on the web, great guns at high prices however. But very good guns.!

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 127 Location: Alabama

As usual a plethora of good Intel. One of the reasons I love this group...thx!

Hill, Rod & Gun in addition to Vintage Doubles are two that I've dealt with and have stellar reputations. Gil

I will give Charlie at Hill, Rod and Gun another vote. I purchased one 16 from him and it was as advertised, maybe a little better.
Good Hunting,
Mike

Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 444 Location: WI

You will find Griffin & Howe will have some good guns from time to time. They do a fine job gunsmithing as well. https://griffinhowe.com/

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

After my experience with Griffin & Howe, where they sold me a Parker GH 16 that didn't come anywhere near passing safe barrel wall thickness inspection...after it had been returned by the previous purchaser for the same reason, I will never deal with them again.

The previous purchaser contacted me and quoted me the serial number when I posted my inspection on the Parker collector's site. G&H did refund my purchase price but didn't cover shipping both ways like I requested since the gun should have never been allowed on market as anything other than a wall hanger. G&H has the measuring tools to check wall thickness and can't claim ignorance. Lose my trust, lose my business. Especially after not making everything right financially when I saved them a tremendous liability.

Thanks for the G&H heads-up. I'll bet a dollar to a donut that they probably did a CYA with a feeble warning somewhere on their site to always have a competent gunsmith check out the gun for safe shooting---I've seen other sellers state such language. Gil