This has been asked a couple of times before, without a clear winner. Thought it would be fun to make a poll and see what the numbers will say

You don't have to have used your pick before, just vote for who you think is the top maker.

Question:
Who do you think makes the finest double today?

Choices:
Westley Richards
Butch Searcy
John Rigby California
Merkel
Krieghoff
Heym
Hartmann & Weiss
Lebeau Courally
Holland & Holland
Peter Nelson
James Purdey
Chapuis
Beretta
Famars
Other Maker

 

Too much of a $$$ spread to answer objectively.

Best VALUE?

Best QUALITY?

Best RE-SALE?INVESTMENT?

I didn't vote, BUT.... I'd like one of each

quote:

Originally posted by AzGuy:
Too much of a $$$ spread to answer objectively.

Best VALUE?

Best QUALITY?

Best RE-SALE?INVESTMENT?

I didn't vote, BUT.... I'd like one of each

It does not have to be scientifically accurate, and you are not allowed to own one of each unless I can do the same Just pick one

JP577,

I voted H&H, IF you will buy it for me, I'll let you "borrow" it!

quote:

Originally posted by AzGuy:
IF you will buy it for me, I'll let you "borrow" it!

Why don't I believe that?

The ones on the list are top notch but this needs to be added.

http://www.fanzoj.com/

Peter Hofer makes I think the finest double out there. I like FAMARS boxlock gun a bunch for a working gun, but I have always wanted a Westley Richards droplock.

Ed

Is P. Hoffer in FERLACH, AUSTRIA?

Peter Hambrusch in Ferlach Austria......??

Yes Peter is in Ferlach.

His link is:

http://www.hoferwaffen.com/hofer_6.php?lang=en

Ed

I'd like to know ANYONE that lusts after DR's that wouldn't give the "left one" for a bespoke....in their name...Holland and Holland. I think that HAS to be the summit of DR's.
Of course the forgoing was my own personal opinion.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI
DSC

Many of those named are made by other in the list, for the name engraved on them.

I voted for Westley Richards, simply because that is my favorite double rifle. However, if I were buying a new rifle today, it would be a Heym, and for all pracitcal purposes, it is probably a better rifle than anything listed, as far as strength, durability, in the field, and price point! As an investment, I would pick either a Purdy, an H&H. Purdy, suprizingly, got far less votes than H&H, and about equal to Westley Richards, but is the most expensive double rifle to buy today, with H&H a runner-up getting 38% of the votes! Just goes to show, there is no accounting for taste!

quote:

Originally posted by Mike Brooks:
The ones on the list are top notch but this needs to be added.

http://www.fanzoj.com/

Beautiful!!

For me, it doesn't get better than H&H. Anytime, anywhere. Now, who's got $200,000 for me to borrow?

Westley Richards now are built on milled action bodies if

that matters to anyone. Also, per Trevor Proctor, the drop

lock system does NOT allow for intercepting sears, and many

feel that they are well worth having.

As any good lawyer will tell you, perception is everything!! It is obviously perceived that Holland and Holland is the top one by a very large margin. Perhaps not deserved, but nonetheless, it is the one to "look up to..."
Should not cost more than 3-400,000.00 to get a really nice one, I mean one you would not be ashamed to take to the "club" and show the fellows.

I voted for Hartmann & Weiss I think there the best but that is so subjective at least they are the best for me.

I've read through this pritty quickly. I did'nt notice anyone mentioning Marcel Thyes. I have to put his gunmaking family right up there at the top.

I'd vote for Searcy and Heym in the manufactured category. One of the finest doubles, would be from David McKay Brown, Glasgow, Scotland.

Best double rifle for the money is without any doubt a sidelock in 'H&H Royal style' double made by Danie Joubert, Pretoria, South Africa.

The quality of his work is way better than even H&H.


A double under work, still in the white.

Price last year for a cased sidelock was
400 000 Rand, probably a bit more expensive today.

After looking at the work of Pierre Artisan at the Rambouillet show this weekend (by the way his last name is Chapuis, but not of the factory Chapuis family) I tend to think that they compete at the highest level. However, he doesn't make large bore doubles, only doubles for the European market, up through 9.3 mm. I handled one and the weight and balance seem perfect to me. Fit and finish is extremely good. They cost more than a factory Chapuis of course.

It's entertaining to see some guys emotionally attached to their rifle/rifle makers. You just cannot compare a 15,000-25,000 DR with a 60,000-150,000 DR your paying for more than just the name.

Dirk & Azguy are right and the poll doesn't tell us much. I know that my observation is about as important as which cereal you'll choose for beakfast, but the poll needs to be done right and in fact should be 2 seperate polls. So many basic factors; they may be a high end "Name", they may be a small old maker but still made great chopper lump guns equal in quality to the big boys. You may need to seperate old from new, somehow, and I think it's a given to seperate shoe/dovetail lump from chopper lump...there's just so much more cost going into the latter. Even if you wanted to just pick you fave maker there are still some rather prolific makes left out like Thys and the Ferlach artisans. Level of embellishment can't be ignored either, or type of action.

I, like many, would find improved polls to be very interesting and the attendant discussion quite lively. As the poll stands there is no way any one but a high end maker can win. To say Searcy is better than WR or McKay-Brown etc is funny.

If I one day should have a new doublerifle made up, and money didn`t matter...A McKay Brown round action with the finest english scroll.
Caliber 450/400 3" or .360No 2
I would not know if that would be the finest doublerifle in the world today, that would require I knew everything there was to know about doublerifles, and everything about those who built them + I should have had my hands on every makers gun there is. I can only make a guess with reference to the price will go up so would the quality..but its only a shot in the dark

.... dont forgot www.lechner-jungl.com/ when you will order a fine DR

Seloushunter

Does EJ Churchill fall into this category?

good morning to all is new an enroled one and great lover of express. I would afford myself to signal two or three
very good costructor to you just for the sake of not to remain always on the usual name.
two are Italian and one is belgian Maker .
the Italian are: F.lli Rizzini : wwww.fllirizzini.it and perugini e visini : www.perugini-visini.com
he belgian is Marc Stevoux : wwww.armurerie-stevaux.be

hopin of to you to have supplied new material I send to you a big bye bye

expressboy


ps my secret passion in W e R

To think this is a niche market? There sure are allot of manufacturers.
A difficult question to answer is after you have spent your pension on such a purchase. Which of these companies is going to remember you and get you a part when and if something breaks? After sales and service? That speaks volumes of a manufacturer! That is what makes repeat customers!
Anyone with that experience on this thread?

quote:

Peter Hofer makes I think the finest double out there. I like FAMARS boxlock gun a bunch for a working gun, but I have always wanted a Westley Richards droplock.

Damn'd nice for sure, but H&W has a fit and finish that is just simply unbeatable!

Nelson would come close if he made any DRs (not sure if he has). But, he is not making any more guns, so that point is moot.

I have offerings from both H&H and Purdey and in today's world would give the quality edge to Purdey for English guns.

If The brothers Rizziini would make a DR aking to that of their lauded "R1-E", then it would be game over for the English makers in terms of quality and innovation.

H&W would still get the nod, but it would be a close call.

Since about 2 years I am thinking about ordering one. Let's see, maybe next year.


http://ziegenhahn.typo3-invikom.de/en/

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha. What a laugh

Thank you

My favorite of the new made "affordable" doubles is the Heym's.

The Merkel, Krieghoff, Chapuis, and Blaser are good servicable doubles, I do think the Heym is worth the increase in cost.

IF you have the money, a new FAMAS is worth looking at.

If you buying a double for a LONG term investment I would get a Holland & Holland.

These would interest me:

Hofer

Hambrusch

McKay Brown

quote:

Originally posted by Macifej:
These would interest me:

Hofer

Hambrusch

McKay Brown

I have shot 500 Grains, 500 nitro Hambrusch on several different occasions.

Whether at 5 yards or @35 yards I have NEVER shot a Right/Left, where the 2 shots did not touch. It handles VERY good as well.

Hyem best for money!!!

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:

quote:

Originally posted by Macifej:
These would interest me:

Hofer

Hambrusch

McKay Brown

I have shot 500 Grains, 500 nitro Hambrusch on several different occasions.

Whether at 5 yards or @35 yards I have NEVER shot a Right/Left, where the 2 shots did not touch. It handles VERY good as well.

They've been building em for a couple hundred years or so ...

Easy. Which ever one I have at the moment.

Finest is such a relative term. I own a Searcy and I believe from a customer satisfaction and servie stand point you can't beat Butch. Would I like to own a H&H, hell ya, will I ever, most likely not. To much $$. So I am happy to have my American made double.

crl

Blaser

Before I bought any of them I'd buy a 9.3 x 74R from George Hoenig, period. They are truly unique and crafted to perfection. SUre they dont have all the foo foo but thats doesnt turn my crank anyway. Wemmer, don't you have one?

_Baxter

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Bush:
Blaser

..........

DAVE to bury the Blaser is more appropriate than to get a favorable response!