Which premium double maker produces a scaled to cartridge size sidelock double for the 9.3x74R?

Can't tell what maker you might be interested in, however look at the Kriefhoff with side plates.

http://www.krieghoff.com/pages/3.2/pages/3.2.html

I have 2 boxlock guns. One in the Big Five and the other a standard Classic and love the way they shoot. Performance has been flawless in my .30-06 (Classic) and 9.3x74R/500-.416 Classic Big Five.

I prefer the simple plain sided guns and the engraving may not be what you desire but it is a great modern firearm option.

Good luck in your search. (The search is actually a great deal of fun.)

Regards,

Mike

Try Josef Just, Ferlach (I hope I got the spelling right)

Butch'll do it!

JW

http://www.searcyent.com

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Wemmer:
Butch'll do it!

JW

http://www.searcyent.com

I believe he said 'Premium'.

Woodjack,

A good friend in S Dakota has a beautiful Artesanos Ego double in 9.3x74R that I have fired.

I don't know what you mean by 'Premium' but if it means that you want a "name" maker, try Johan Fanzoj. Hannes Fanzoj is an old friend and tell him Hi from me if you get in touch with them.

Good hunting!

All the Chapuis doubles are boxlocks, but the higher grades have "false" sideplates and very nice wook. With a price to match. I have the lowest grade the UGEX. I am very happy with the way it shoots, handles and carries. The pivot scope mount goes back to zero 100%.

Hi,
Merkel model 160is a sidelock made for medium bores including the 9,3x74R.

You have also some Spanish makers like for example Victor Sarasqueta, Grulla etc that makes sidelocks in the H&H Royal style.

if you wants to buy something cheap with sideplates instead there are Italian Sabatti doubles that doesnt look to bad for about USD$ 2000 (in Sweden).
Like this one:



Husky

quote:

Originally posted by Woodjack:
Which premium double maker produces a scaled to cartridge size sidelock double for the 9.3x74R?

Of the "premium makers", i.e.: H&H, W.R., ect... They all scale their frame sizes to the caliber.

Can you be a little more specific as to what you're looking for?

New_Guy,

You have answered my question.

Thanks for all replies.

quote:

Originally posted by husky:
Hi,
Merkel model 160is a sidelock made for medium bores including the 9,3x74R.

You have also some Spanish makers like for example Victor Sarasqueta, Grulla etc that makes sidelocks in the H&H Royal style.

if you wants to buy something cheap with sideplates instead there are Italian Sabatti doubles that doesnt look to bad for about USD$ 2000 (in Sweden).
Like this one:



Husky

I thought that Sabatti only made double shotguns and single barrel rifles. I just checked their site and didn't see any SxS double rifles.

Hi Frank,
Sabatti makes both O/U and SbS double rifles. In Sweden they are sold under the retailers name "Classic" see:
http://www.classicvapen.com/page.cfm?pageID=6008&TopID=...mplate=prod_overview

They are not in Merkel or Chapius class, but much better made than Sabattis Shotguns. As the Merkel and Chapius cost twice as much as the Sabatti, one could put in some money in order to change the stock etc and still have money left. The where tested in the Swedish gun magazine "Vapentidningen" with very good overall results and they shot very very good!

As I visited Italy earlier this year I had a plan to order one at the Factory close to the Garda lake. I had a long chat on the thelephone with Mr Sabatti and he confirmed that it would be possible to order the SbS with a classic stock like their SbS shotguns have and also make some other changes like skip the machine engraving. He also said that they considered to introduce the rifle in larger calibers than 9,3x74R, but no decisions was taken at that time.

I would like to have one in .416/500 for possibly under USD$ 3500!

However I din't buy any when I passed by the factory because I bought an old Janssen Sons & Co SbS double in .333 Jeffery Flanged instead.

Husky

quote:

They are not in Merkel or Chapius class, but much better made than Sabattis Shotguns.

If we could get them here at the $2000 price point you mentioned then notwithstanding that they are not in the Chapuis/Merkel class I would be happy to put my lunch money toward one.

C A U T I O N

C A U T I O N

I read in one of the best hunting magazine in France a reporter, a major one, Francis Grange,
writing :

less than a double on four sold in France is reasonnably good (in French "acceptable").

No way to learn more.

We aren't even speaking of sidelocks.
As one find in France any possible European maker, it's hard to have a guess about the bad doubles.

What one can understand is that a good double is not cheap. Add sidelocks, a bargain will be a rarity.

quote:

I believe he said 'Premium'.

Yes he did and Butch's sidelocks are premium. These are not sideplate guns.



JW

quote:

Originally posted by jbderunz:
C A U T I O N

C A U T I O N

I read in one of the best hunting magazine in France a reporter, a major one, Francis Grange,
writing :

less than a double on four sold in France is reasonnably good (in French "acceptable").

No way to learn more.

We aren't even speaking of sidelocks.
As one find in France any possible European maker, it's hard to have a guess about the bad doubles.

What one can understand is that a good double is not cheap. Add sidelocks, a bargain will be a rarity.

I am not sure that Mr Grange is right...
There are no more "secrets" in building a double rifle than a SbS shootgun nowadays. Not as long we are talking about building the double on a shotgun action and regulate the barrels first with the help of laser beams and only shoot it in the very end of the process.

If you are doing the work by hand like Holland & Holland, Westley Richards among others with fancy wood, engraving etc -it will cost a lot of money in salaries for the workers, wood etc.

If you are making the rifle mostly with CNC machines (that you already has invested in like Chapuis, Merkel, Sabatti, Antonio Zoli etc) you will still get a double rifle,
Not so nice, not so fancy but a good shooting double rifle, altough without all "carisma" a hand made double rifle has. That was the reason for me to buy a "hand made double" instead of a new "machine made double".

When one comes to the pricing. In the end the price seldom reflects how much it costs to make the thing you want to buy, but how much the market are willing to pay for the brand!

Example: A Swedish made Volvo XC 90 costs nearly 100% more in Sweden than in the USA (yes Swedish taxes are higher -but still)

So, my conclusion is that the Sabatti, Antonio Zoli etc are good buys as long as you don't expects to get a rifle as nice and carismatic as a Holland & Holland Royal! But you still get a rifle that is almost in Chapius class for lesser money.

Husky

quote:

So, my conclusion is that the Sabatti, Antonio Zoli etc are good buys as long as you don't expects to get a rifle as nice and carismatic as a Holland & Holland Royal! But you still get a rifle that is almost in Chapius class for lesser money.

Husky

Have you handled the Sabatti and Zoli's?

What do they handle and point like?

How balanced are they?

I believed the "Classics" (Sabatti's) take scope mounts as well with a dovetail on the rib?

Do they shoot reasonably well regulated?

Thanks for any answers. Genuine interest.

I handled a Piotti sidelock in 9.3 X 74 that was a very high class gun.

Dave

Originally posted by NitroX:
Have you handled the Sabatti and Zoli's?
Yes, A gunshop here in Stockholm had at one time Merkel, Chapius, Zoli, Krieghoff, Blaser and Sabatti SbS doubles in stock, so there was a good opportunity to handle them all. The Zoli i am mentioning is the "Savanna" model. They don't make it any longer, but the factory still has some in their stock, mostly 9,3x74R.

What do they handle and point like?
I think that they handles and points as good as the Merkel and the Chapuis ( but that is a very personal thing as you know reagarding to your size etc). On the Sabatti I would change the sights, because I find them to "fragile" (just like the Chapius)

How balanced are they?
They are well balanced, the Zoli is best with it's 26" barells, the Sabbatti has 24" barells. The Merkel or the Chapius are no better. The Merkel is sold in Sweden with 22" barells which I think make it to flimsy.

I believed the "Classics" (Sabatti's) take scope mounts as well with a dovetail on the rib?
Yes, thats right. The quick release scope mount costs about USD $ 250.

Do they shoot reasonably well regulated?
I have only shoot the Sabatti. It shoots very well! With open sights at 60 meters 2 shot from each barell with open sights within 4". Thats good enough for me! You get a certificate and the target with a piece of the ammunition box the rifle was regulated with, in this case a 9,3x74R regulated with Norma 286grains Alaska bullets.

The Merkel are better fitting wood to metal, the Chapius worse than the Sabatti. The Merkel and the Chapius was nicer looking, better wood, no traces of the CNC machine which the Sabatti had. The Merkel and the Chapius had ejectors, not aviable on the Sabatti (good or worse, I dont see ejectors as nessecary)

But in the end, I rank them at the same level, The Merkel and the Chapius costs about USD $4000, the Sabatti about USD $2000. You can put in some money chanching the sights, buy the scope mount and the scope or what ever....

Thanks for the information.

Your'e welcome

Cheers
Husky