This rifle was for sale a few months ago at a much higher estimate. The price of doubles has fallen in the past two years. I doubt it will sell at the high estimate but at the low estimate it is a good buy. A gent told me he bought this one at the last auction but I guess not.

This rifle was made by Saunders and sold to Jeffery in 1904 for 29+ pounds and Jeffery sold it for 42 pounds. The gold elephant was added, however the records show it was originally engraved with an elephant on each side. The selling price of 40 pounds tells me not much engraving was done as highly engraved .600s sold for 50 pounds.
Cal

I was about to question the originality of the elephant! The rest of the engraving looks refreshed to my untrained eyes.

BTW the Boswell went for just $6.3K and BPE rifles for $3k!!!

Whats going on?

quote:

Originally posted by cal pappas:
This rifle was for sale a few months ago at a much higher estimate. The price of doubles has fallen in the past two years. I doubt it will sell at the high estimate but at the low estimate it is a good buy. A gent told me he bought this one at the last auction but I guess not.

This rifle was made by Saunders and sold to Jeffery in 1904 for 29+ pounds and Jeffery sold it for 42 pounds. The gold elephant was added, however the records show it was originally engraved with an elephant on each side. The selling price of 40 pounds tells me not much engraving was done as highly engraved .600s sold for 50 pounds.
Cal

I have two theories (but, what the hell do I know?):

1. A few years ago there were lots of doubles on the market, many at unheard-of high prices. Many sold and the high prices crept higher until there was a saturation of the market. If you look at the doubles on GA, GB, and GI, many have been there for a year or two.

2. The introduction of Sabatti rifles at 5K and Kreighoff, Merkel, Chapuis for 6-10K and others sold the new-to-the-doubles market buyers a brand new rifle for the same or less than an old used double. Many of these are good utility doubles and some are not. But to the folks who wanted to own a double rifle because it was going to be the coolest rifle at the range a brand new double would show more pride of ownership than a used rifle. Remember many feel a .450-400 is a huge big bore caliber when they shoot a .270.

These are just my opinions and others who disagree will have valid points, I'm sure.
Cheers, mates.
Cal

PS. I read in Julia's newsletter that with so many Winchesters on the auction block the prices on those rifles have taken a dip, too.

The above written, I should add a bit. It also seems high end and rare doubles are indeed holding the value: 4-bore, all original, cased with accessories, rare, top end maker's name, etc.

The plain bpe, boxlocks that are refinished or other issues, etc., have taken the biggest hits.
Cal

Cal,

I agree with your premise on the double rifle price dump. I'd add however the "Cecil" factor into the equation. Bookings are down in Africa overall therefore African style hunting rifles are taking a hit as well.

Now might well be the best time in recent history to buy a good solid old English double rifle.


If the Hildebeast gets elected next week standby for a price explosion an any and all EBRs. The she beast will outsell Obama.

Another issue is the age of the market. We grew up watching Tarzan and reading Ruark, Hemmingway, and others. We dreamed of hunting Africa someday. Now we're getting on in age, and the younger generation is more into ARs, Uzis, Barretts, handguns, and the other weapons they used in their video games as kids. We're slowly fading away, and with us, the allure of the double rifle.

Agree. Same thing with old west firearms, WWII collectibles, double shotguns, etc. Younger shooters only seem to be interested in disposable stainless & plastic.

Cal said -

quote:

The introduction of Sabatti rifles at 5K and Kreighoff, Merkel, Chapuis for 6-10K and others sold the new-to-the-doubles market buyers a brand new rifle for the same or less than an old used double

Agreed and some of us chose custom made doubles based on appropriate double shotguns. For example the fine looking .45-120 double currently in this section of the forum. Fine work by a gun maker known to turn out nice rifles. My .405 WCF double is from the same gunmaker (non of the major makers stock the .405 ) . there are also several other proven makers in the USA, and Aaron Little on this forum is one of them.

1000 grains of Cordite?
Anyone got a picture of the cartridge?