My "Forever" gun

[Ithaca33]

I am 25. I hunt 50-75 days a year, I shoot roughly 5000 clays a year (well shoot at )

I'd like to treat myself with a bespoke made to all my specs shotgun for my 30th birthday. I know this is a long ways off but I also know it can take 3-4 years to take delivery of such a gun.

Here is my dilemma. Do I have a gun made, start to finish for me from scratch at a place like csmc, poli, etc or do I buy an A grade fox and have it reworked into my be all end all gun?

I know I'm looking at spending anywhere from $10k-$25k depending on what I want but in all honesty, I don't like overly engraved "pretty" guns. I want a wand that fits me perfectly, is a dream to mount and shoots where I look. I have some absolute criteria .....

16ga
English stock
Oil finish
Double triggers
30" barrels
Case colored receiver

And a few things I'd like to include....

Balanced just in front of the hinge pin
Engraved with Drahthaars and game scenes


So what would you all do? Order a custom made gun or buy a sound A grade fox and have it totally reworked and restocked for half as much?

If nothing else this is all fun to think about and plan!

[Researcher]

I believe if I was in your position, I'd opt for todays new steel rather than reworking some 70 to 110 year old metal. That said, I've been shooting birds with my 1914-vintage A-Grade from its 52nd season through its 97th season, and will start its 98th season next week.

[Twice Barrel]

Tony Galazan builds some very nice guns in Connecticut but you will be limited, if you can call it that, to small gauges (16 gauge on down). If you are wanting a 12 gauge you will need to go the custom route and there are a number of fine craftsmen out there that can do you proud.

[Jim Cloninger]

Think Purdey.

[ROMAC]

I'd take my time but start with a professional measurement with a try gun and a pro. After that I'd take a while to look around and see what might be out there that fits or would be adaptable to your perfect fit.

Then I would pay a visit to a few shops where you would see a lifetime of best guns all in one place and fondle, hold, mount, smell, caress or whatever all the guns you can. I'd ask a lot of questions. I'd try to decide exactly what I would want it for and how I'd like to use it. Only after you feel like you have been wasting everybody's time would I reach for my wallet for $25 large. It's a big financial commitment so I'd go about it methodically over a good deal of time. A lot of money can be saved if you find one that is perfect for you that somebody bought to look at rather than shoot. Who knows, at you budget you might be able to find a set.

[APS]

I am having Perigrini & Visini build me a modern 12 bore to my dimensions for high volume sporting. The base gun is in the $10,000 range to start. Adding above the basic engraving and wood will add money.

I looked for a good time for what I wanted in a modern gun. I have had CSMC make me a 20 and I have a 20 hammer made for me by Dale Tate so I have been down this path a few times. The P & V seems to be the best deal on a hight quality gun. The deliver is not that bad either.

Al

[TOOL MAN]

I-33....just my 2 and a half cents..........

Since you're a fellow "Nutmegger", first place I'd start would be a visit some Saturday, to CSMC. Plan on a few hours because Tony's new gunroom will no doubt throw you into doublegun, sensory overload!! You can look at a dazzling array of both used and customizable (CSMC) guns.

I believe that the best values in SxS' today are in the Tier-2 & 3-- U.K. guns. Twenty+ names come to mind, like Lang, Grant, Powell, Boswell, Lancaster, Atkins, Evans, W.C.Scott....etc. A 30"--16 would probably be a tough find but I'm sure they are out there. Personally, I would look for
the classic 12b, 30" Brit sidelock .....beautifully proportioned, straight grip, DT, gorgeous wood, tasteful rose & scroll engraving----all snugly fit in an oak & leather case w/trade label.....what could be more intoxicating??? Thousands for sale to choose from and I bet you would come in on the low end of your price range!!! BTW, you can now shoot 3/4 oz loads in a 12....and at 6----6 3/4 lbs....who the hell needs a 16???

After you fall in love with one, you can always have the Drahtaars added later. Good luck on your quest and please remember....the only thing
"forever" about doubleguns will be your passion to acquire the next one.....LOL!!!!!-----TOOL MAN

[Big Friend Ten]

It would be hard to beat a custom 16 gauge based on a Sterlingworth.

This link is to Fox Association member Bamboozler's custom 20 gauge Sterlingworth:

http://foxcollectors.com/My%20Forum/php ... =34&t=4104

I've had the pleasure of holding this gun and it is truely amazing!

Mark

[Ithaca33]

That gun is what made me consider a Sterly rebuild. It is beautiful

[eightbore]

A Sterly rebuild isn't going to use anywhere near the money you want to spend. You might as well tell Tony what you want and write the big check. Custom engraved CSMC Fox.

[Ithaca33]

I'm lucky to live 30 min from CSMC so I've spent more than one day fondling guns I could NEVER afford. I've always been treated well there and would like to give them my business but I don't think ill be able to afford even the base model fox they produce. I could however get a pretty seriously customized RBL for around $10k.

I though adding a set of riffle barrels in .375 H&H would make for an awesome set but I don't know if that is even possible on the RBL platform.

[Stan Hillis]

I agree with Bill. I'd go with a "new made" Fox, by Tony. Go to his place and spend all the time you need there talking with them about fit, engraving...... all the little things that will make it your bespoke gun, and yours alone. Then, when it is done, you will have a custom Fox with a warranty on it, and a good man standing behind it. Have a custom Fox built on an old Fox platform, and you're on your own. No warranty. Maybe not a deal breaker, but something to consider when you're spending big bucks on a gun that will be used.

Stan

[vaturkey]

It would be hard to beat a custom 16 gauge based on a Sterlingworth.

This link is to Fox Association member Bamboozler's custom 20 gauge Sterlingworth:

http://foxcollectors.com/My%20Forum/php ... =34&t=4104

I've had the pleasure of holding this gun and it is truely amazing!

Mark

I believe this is still the way to go. Base gun is available with 30" barrels and ejectors in the Sterlingworth line. My estimate is that gun in decent shape will run 2k.

Figure another thousand for a good Circassian blank. Restocking figure 3K. Metal work to bend the tangs, add the longer custom made trigger guard with extended tang and reshape the frame and add scalloped frame and rebates 2K. Lastly, engraving that you wish 4K. Total amount spent would be circa 11K IMO. You'd have something really special and if you have a well thought of engraver do the work you'd have a piece of work. Figure on the above taking at least 3 years to complete. The good thing is you truly have 3 years to pay for it as well and that spreads the pain a bit. I'd feel a bit different if you wanted to build a 12 or 20 gauge with 3" chambers. However, since you are talking 16 gauge I think you can certainly find a mechanically fine Fox SW out there with number 3 barrels that will safely digest anything you'd reasonably want (or need) to shoot in it.

[Ithaca33]

It would be hard to beat a custom 16 gauge based on a Sterlingworth.

This link is to Fox Association member Bamboozler's custom 20 gauge Sterlingworth:

http://foxcollectors.com/My%20Forum/php ... =34&t=4104

I've had the pleasure of holding this gun and it is truely amazing!

Mark

I believe this is still the way to go. Base gun is available with 30" barrels and ejectors in the Sterlingworth line. My estimate is that gun in decent shape will run 2k.

Figure another thousand for a good Circassian blank. Restocking figure 3K. Metal work to bend the tangs, add the longer custom made trigger guard with extended tang and reshape the frame and add scalloped frame and rebates 2K. Lastly, engraving that you wish 4K. Total amount spent would be circa 11K IMO. You'd have something really special and if you have a well thought of engraver do the work you'd have a piece of work. Figure on the above taking at least 3 years to complete. The good thing is you truly have 3 years to pay for it as well and that spreads the pain a bit. I'd feel a bit different if you wanted to build a 12 or 20 gauge with 3" chambers. However, since you are talking 16 gauge I think you can certainly find a mechanically fine Fox SW out there with number 3 barrels that will safely digest anything you'd reasonably want (or need) to shoot in it.

This is really where I'm at. I think I could reasonably stash away $300-$400 a month without feeling it much and come out with a gun I could love forever. If I tried to get a CSMC Fox built I'd really be looking at double that or more.

[vaturkey]

It would be hard to beat a custom 16 gauge based on a Sterlingworth.

This link is to Fox Association member Bamboozler's custom 20 gauge Sterlingworth:

http://foxcollectors.com/My%20Forum/php ... =34&t=4104

I've had the pleasure of holding this gun and it is truely amazing!

Mark

I believe this is still the way to go. Base gun is available with 30" barrels and ejectors in the Sterlingworth line. My estimate is that gun in decent shape will run 2k.

Figure another thousand for a good Circassian blank. Restocking figure 3K. Metal work to bend the tangs, add the longer custom made trigger guard with extended tang and reshape the frame and add scalloped frame and rebates 2K. Lastly, engraving that you wish 4K. Total amount spent would be circa 11K IMO. You'd have something really special and if you have a well thought of engraver do the work you'd have a piece of work. Figure on the above taking at least 3 years to complete. The good thing is you truly have 3 years to pay for it as well and that spreads the pain a bit. I'd feel a bit different if you wanted to build a 12 or 20 gauge with 3" chambers. However, since you are talking 16 gauge I think you can certainly find a mechanically fine Fox SW out there with number 3 barrels that will safely digest anything you'd reasonably want (or need) to shoot in it.

This is really where I'm at. I think I could reasonably stash away $300-$400 a month without feeling it much and come out with a gun I could love forever. If I tried to get a CSMC Fox built I'd really be looking at double that or more.

If you go that route then the first step is to locate that 30" 16 Gauge Sterlingworth ejector gun. That will take a while but they are out there. Just remember the most important things are the barrels. Everything else can be fixed. I'd look for a gun with 3 weight or 4 weight barrels as they can be struck down to remove the stamping on the barrels and still retain lots of barrel wall thickness. You can also start your search for a suitable blank. I'd encourage anyone going this route to not skimp on the stock blank. The same amount of work is required from the stock maker whether the blank is plain or well figured. Figure has to be in the right area and the layout needs to be perfect. Ideally you should be fitted by someone who knows what they are doing and those measurements transferred to the stockmaker so they can be duplicated. I've been down this route, so if you need any additional details or I can assist in any way please feel free to drop me a PM.

PS. Since you don't specify ejectors being required on your original post you can get a non-ejector 16 gauge SW 30" a lot easier then the ejector version. They will still not grow on tree's but you will find a lot more of the non-ejector out there for sure.