Dream Gun

P

Paul Mc

Active member
Good Morning,
My cousin is a very successful attorney and wants a gift for a good client who is an avid bird hunter. He asked me what I'd recommend he get with a $5-10k budget. Since that is way WAY out of my budget I figured I'd open it up to the forum. So, what's the dream gun in that range, both over/under and an auto loader option?
 
I suggest he look at Guns International. There are thousands of shotguns offered for sale. Due to putting down a wonderful Lab I needed something to ease the pain. Buying a gun always makes me happy. So I got a new one. I view it as a total classic. It is a W&C Scott game engraved Premier sidelock 20 bore. With oak and leather case and extra set of barrels. Made in 1897. Price $6000. Actually a good buy. If that gun had Purdey engraved on it it would be priced above $20,000. And those W&C guns are totally equal to any Purdey, Boss, or Holland ever made. Not so much when they merged with Webley to form Webley & Scott. Regarding guns made by W&C Scott, many of you might be aware that they made all the guns for Holland and Holland up until the late 1890s. And still made some up until 1917. The also made guns for Purdey for a period. Also the highest priced gun ever offered in the UK was the Imperial Premier. I gave most of my guns (13) to Delta Waterfowl last year, along with 620 books, art, and decoys. This raised about $70,000 and is being used to buy nesting wetlands in Manitoba. But after consideration, I decided I had given away a few guns I should have kept, such as a 20 bore. So this new gun will be perfect for snipe, doves and quail. Getting the gun helped somewhat to ease the profound sadness over loosing Maggie. Best, Worth.
 
You're going to get as many suggestions as there are responses. If it's at all possible, have the attorney contact his clients wife or hunting buddy and find out what he covets. In the absence of direction, within the suggested budget a variety of quality sxs and o/u are available. I wouldn't suggest an auto unless that's the feedback you get.

Many bird hunters, especially as they age, have their eye on a vintage sxs. A 16 sxs for the grouse hunter might be high on the list. For under $10,000 their are some early-mid 20th century beauties to be had. As Worth suggested online sites such as Guns America, GunBroker and others are a great resource.
 
cool gun Worth, I just bought its older big brother. A Scott Premier in 10 Gauge with back action locks - love the crystal cocking indicatorsIMG_6212.jpgIMG_6213.jpgIMG_6214.jpgIMG_6215.jpgIMG_6216.jpg
 
Lawrence, I kept the exact gun and didn't give it to Delta. But I had it changed from a 10 bore into a 3 inch 12 bore. It is one of three waterfowl guns I kept. A favorite! Just can't believe how many different species of birds are engraved on it. A class act from many years ago. Best, Worth
 
Capt Rich Geminski said:
Paul, check out Connecticut Shotgun...
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Oddly enough, he's in CT. So it's already turning into a fiasco. He'd have to buy the gun then the recipient will have to go to the store to do the background check and pick it up. As you can imagine, there's no longer the ability to buy it as a gift and present it to him. Plus my cousin is a NY resident and the friend lives in CT so there's state lines etc. I'll check it out.
 
Capt Rich Geminski said:
Paul, check out Connecticut Shotgun...
Click to expand...

Yes, really nice place with a great selection of high quality shotguns. In addition to used guns, they manufacture repro AH Fox, Winchester 21, and other sxs and o/u models of their own label.
 
Paul, check out the Beretta Gallery in ny city. If you do see Ed in the gun room, he has access to some fine guns in the Beretta collection.
 
Without knowing any history on the client, it can be a difficult one to pick from. Is the gift going to be a shooter and used or a office decoration piece. I ask, as I see some really fancy guns on display in peoples homes that don't get used. I always have clients shoulder the shotgun and pick the one that comes up best. I absolutely dislike SxS shotguns and I don't shoot them very well. I was given a collection of Merkel shotguns and tried to like shooting them. I considered keeping them just for decoration, but wanted something more practical that I could use and would use. I purchased a new Krieghoff K-80 and absolutely love shooting it. This could be a great option and they shoot very well and can adjusted to your fit and aligned to your eye.
A bit of history, I shot many of the firearms mentioned above and have a rather large collection of shotguns from varying bore sizes to makes and models. I am a collector of sorts. I shot the Perazzi for a while but do like the Krieghoff.
I do hunt with multiple individuals that are fairly fond of the Parker shotgun offerings. That maybe another good option. I have shot multiple H&H shotguns, still don't care for the SxS and these are luxury shotguns some carrying $160K price tag, but if you don't shoot them well, they become an expensive safe queen.
 
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I'm a functional gun guy, not a dream gun guy, so not sure I can help much. I'm much less functionally inclined when it comes to fly rods.

I'd find out a lot about what the intended recipient likes and lusts after. There are a ton of very good fly rods out there, but you'd have to know me pretty well to know I'd want a classic varnished (not impregnated) cane rod; one best suited for trout fishing on larger rivers and ponds--something like an 8' or even 8'6" 5 or 6 weight; preferably from one of the Maine companies who made fine rods in the mid 20th century; and of those, a strong preference for Payne or FE Thomas, and would really go gaga over a Payne 202 or an FE Thomas Special.

These kinds of consideration in the shotgun world would be things like maker (US or Euro? Modern or classic?), S X S vs OU, gage, barrel length, etc. All of which are highly personal, and about which people tend to have strong preferences.

When someone gave me a similar gift, it was in the form of a gift certificate to a modern rod maker they knew I admired, and they let me work out the details with the builder. I got exactly what I wanted, but it was no surprise.

I did not go with my gut and have them reproduce a Payne 202, but went with a more modern taper instead. It fishes very well and I have not regrets, but there is always that twinge that I should have gone with the classic.
 
these are mine I like them all pity I can't hunt with the big 8ga on the end 13.5 lbs 34 inch bbls My favorites are the Ithaca magnum 10 3.5in and the rare foxr wildfowl 12 GA 3 inch.duck guns.jpg
 
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Allen, If you want you can use your 8 bore in the field. I had two of them and had a gunsmith in British Columbia make me removable 10 bore chamber sleeves for them. Worked very well. I will refuse to say that I had the guns out without the 10 bore sleeves. Just senseless that 8 bores aren't allowed.
 
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