hello,

Saw this on auctionarms.com. I am new to doubles but been wanting one for ever. Good deal or should I skip?

http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?ItemNum=4487674

Tongo

I have fondeled around with quite a few doubles. If you want a new made 470 double I would recommend you a Chapuis it has better fit and finish than the Kreighoff. The only thinkable alternative would be the Merkel double, forget the engarving on the merkel it's not worth the extra money. German are not very good of illustrating animals, they look like cross breeds

If you don't want a new one start looking for a used one that is in good condition, there can be a few pits to fall into when buying a used one soo you have to inspect and consult before you decide. Soem of the double loonies here at the forum would be able to help you out

/ JOHAN

Tonga, looks like a good deal. If the rifle has only 12 rounds through it.

A friend in San Antonio has a Kreighoff in 500/416. He has ordered another barrel for it and already has a set of 20 ga barrels. He is very happy with his double.

I'd still like to have the rifle inspected by an expert before buying unless the conditioned is guaranteed.

Rusty
We band of brothers!

Tongo
You may have already done this.... but I recommend you handle as many doubles as you can to see which ones you like the best.
How a double rifle fits you is very important.

Tongo

I would take the advice of 450 No2, try to get your hands on as many doubles as you can, see what you like and what you do not like. As far as new doubles are concerned you have 5 basic choices ,if we are talking a reasonable price, not any of the big name makers, they are Krieghoff,Chapius,Searcy,Merkel,Blaser. Some people do not like the safety on the Krieghoff stating that it is very different from a conventional double rifle safety and I suppose that if one owns many doubles that one would want all the safety's to work in the same manner,However if you are going to purchase only one double this would not be an issue. I have had expierience only with the Searcy and the Krieghoff, they are both well made rifles, I have no expierience with the others but many here do.

At SCI you can pick up a new Krieghoff for within a few hundred of $8K, so I would not be tempted by a used one for approximately the same price.

I suspect this one is over priced. It's been on the auction site for a very long time.

I made the fellow an offer at about what I payed for my "as new" Searcy ... mid $6. He indicated the he had the gun on consignment and that the owner probably had an optimistic view of it's value.

Discussion with the seller also revealed that this rifle does not have the latest trigger assembly ... in which the front trigger easily moves forward so that it doesn't eat your hand when pulling the rear trigger.

Good luck finding one. It's tough on a budget!

Unfortunately the #1 rule in buying and selling rifles that were bought new is that the smaller the pool of potential buyers, the more the original owner has to "eat it" when the piece goes on the market....this is especially true on and high-dollar piece and the more custom features, the more you loose.

The Krieghoff is over-priced by at least $1500 and probably closer to $2K.

Tongo, all good advice, except for the following:
Are you buying the double as an investment or to use? I agree that we don't want to be "taken", and in fact, most of us would love to "steal" a double, however, in general I would be happy paying a fair price for a gun I want and take pride and pleasure in owning. Let's face it, most of us do not have the opportunity to handle many different makes of doubles. Perhaps a visit to SCI would give that opportunity. I own a Kreighoff in 500/416 and love it. I bought it used and have no doubt that if I sell it (maybe in about 25 years, or perhaps my ancestors will sell it), I will at least get out what I paid for it. If not, so what? I don't sell my cars for what I paid for them. Pay a fair price, and enjoy your double! BTW I could not follow the link. Has the gun been sold? If it has, just keep your eys open, there will always be others.
peter.

500grains

8K what horrible price. I telephoned with my gunsmith a Krieghoff BIG FIVE in 470 N.E. not engraved hewould offer me for about 5.600 EURO.
O.K. the Dollar is at the moment not so strong, so we talk about 6500 USD.
As okonomie is bad at the moment I think it would be possible to bring the price to 6250 USD.
The prices for used guns are very good for buyers at the moment

Burkhard

Burkhart, guns cost you less for the same reason that African Safaris cost you less, I think. People think we are all rich over here!
Peter.

Burkhard

I found a 416/500 Kreighoff today. It will sell for 3200 � including 60 rounds and a bunch of cases and dies.

I think the importers to USA takes a few %, but I wonder if there is some sort of import tax on firearms to USA?

/ JOHAN

[ 06-17-2003, 00:14: Message edited by: JOHAN ]

Johan

If noone is taking - I'll jump on it it in a second! Is it in good shape and has the UAS System?

I'm in Vienna/Austria not to far away to import

Send me a mail if this is still available...

Cheers, Franz

To me, a Krieghoff points like a Mossburg or a baseball bat, the action is too long and its all out of balance, the comb is too high for irons and it's stiff as a board to open and the gun is too straight...I suppose thats to take up recoil...The safty set up is a wreck looking for a place to happen....

I'll take a good used English rifle any day and if I want a modern double it will be a Searcy built to my stock specs.