Scot, I would recommend looking for some of the older Beretta side by sides, from before the 626 series. I love the side by side for hunting. I don't have a used gun book in front of me now but I believe they are designated as GR series. They are not the high dollar engraved guns of Beretta but nice field guns. Most that I have saw have been double trigger. Great lock up and wood to metal fit. I know there are several guys out there who toot the horn of the American made older double barrels, but I tend to like the 1950s to 1960s European guns. Very well made and very reasonable in price for the quality. Just my opinion but might save a lot of time in stocking except to fit the gun to you. Fuzzy

I have come to that place in life where I want to consolidate my collection. I want a really nice double for quail, doves and such. A 16 or 20ga, lightweight 30ish inch barrels and straight stock. I am not intersted in a modern industrial design, only walnut and steel. I am quite capable of making a top quality stock and doing good hand polishing. I would need to send it out for tightining the lockup if necessary. My idea is to rebuild a quality gun to fit me perfectly.

I was thinking of spending in the $2500 range. My first thought was a Parker. I have several LC Smiths and frankley they don't impress me. The stocks split and the locks are soft. The lock-up tends to loosen. I have a 12ga BSS and it is a bit to chunkie. Maybe the straight stock version in 20 ga. would be nice. I don't know if they made longer barrels? Still I might want something better. Holland and holland is out of my league, as are the rest of the best English guns.

Any reccomendations?

Scot:

I suggest looking at the Spanish guns. You should be able to find one you can afford at Thad Scott Fine Guns (www.thadscott.com). I have not completed a transaction with them, but Thad has been around for a while, and his prices seem very reasonable. From what I have found, the better manufacturers include AyA, Arrietta, and Grulla.

Dave

www.guntrader.co.uk There are plenty of quality s/h English boxlock ejectors available for that sort of money.
Maybe something from Austria/Germany, they have produced some very attractive engineered guns. Often in 16 bore, usually 30 inch barrelled often with a continental stock which can do with being reworked!