Re: Henry Double barrel shotgun
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2020 3:21 pm
I love the CZ products actually made by CZ in the Czech Republic as well as some of the other gun companies under their name, such as Dan Wesson. (DWs are made here in the U.S. in NY.) The Turkish made CZ shotguns are actually a value as doubles go, even at those prices, simply because doubles are the most expensive type of shotgun you can buy.
From experience in my bird hunting days when I was younger, though, I learned how expensive a good double or O/U is and why you paid to get it, but I was willing to do it.The bargain doubles some of my friends and other shooters I knew tried were sometimes iffy as far as functioning and shooting to POA. They all eventually went back to Remington 870s or 1100s and got 100% reliability and guns that shot where they pointed them.
Cowboy, there was a day when all major U.S.gun makers offered doubles. They ranged in quality from utility grade farm type guns to some of the finest quality shotguns ever produced. Only the better quality guns achieved collectibility status and appreciated in value. Those Savage-Stevens doubles were in that utility grade category. When you got a good one, they were solid shooters, but they were mass produced with a minimum of hand fitting to keep the prices affordable. Those prices you were quoted reflect the prices they sold for in their day and the fact that they never achieved collectibility status. Doesn't mean your gun is a cheap or bad gun in any way. As long as it shoots for you, keep it.
The reason no one makes a double in the U.S., anymore, is largely because of production costs and ultimately lack of demand, meaning fewer and fewer shooters have been willing to pay what it takes to make one that is reliable and that shoots to point of aim, when they can buy a pump or double that shoots just as well or better for a fraction of the price. The other issue for gun makers is servicing doubles when they come in for repair because of the expertise required and lack of personnel who know how to work on them.
From experience in my bird hunting days when I was younger, though, I learned how expensive a good double or O/U is and why you paid to get it, but I was willing to do it.The bargain doubles some of my friends and other shooters I knew tried were sometimes iffy as far as functioning and shooting to POA. They all eventually went back to Remington 870s or 1100s and got 100% reliability and guns that shot where they pointed them.
Cowboy, there was a day when all major U.S.gun makers offered doubles. They ranged in quality from utility grade farm type guns to some of the finest quality shotguns ever produced. Only the better quality guns achieved collectibility status and appreciated in value. Those Savage-Stevens doubles were in that utility grade category. When you got a good one, they were solid shooters, but they were mass produced with a minimum of hand fitting to keep the prices affordable. Those prices you were quoted reflect the prices they sold for in their day and the fact that they never achieved collectibility status. Doesn't mean your gun is a cheap or bad gun in any way. As long as it shoots for you, keep it.
The reason no one makes a double in the U.S., anymore, is largely because of production costs and ultimately lack of demand, meaning fewer and fewer shooters have been willing to pay what it takes to make one that is reliable and that shoots to point of aim, when they can buy a pump or double that shoots just as well or better for a fraction of the price. The other issue for gun makers is servicing doubles when they come in for repair because of the expertise required and lack of personnel who know how to work on them.