Beautiful rifle, Chris!

The third post up is dated 2011 , June 26...

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The third post up is dated 2011 , June 26...

So ist time for NEW Heym Double Rifle Photos

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Originally posted by bwanamrm:
You guys are right... crappy engraving kills the value on this gun! Hey Chris, I will take this one off your hands for pennies on the dollar to save you the embarassment of having to post the rifle pictures on a public forum... after all what self-respecting buffalo would agree to being shot with such a rifle.

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Guys, this thread has taken a decidedly AR turn, from Chris Sells introduction of a new model Heym with excellent photos, to statements of hideous and garish engraving and statements of quality among different manufacturers. Maybe we should all sit back and partake of a tumbler of a fine single-malt or three. I hesitated to weigh in as one more voice doesn't make much of a difference. Still, tho' I'll probably regret it, I must.

First of all, I think we should take care to distinguish between opinion and fact. Opinions are fine and like azzes, everyone has at least one. For example, Dave Bush made the statement that he prefers a VC and Chapuis over a Heym. That's fine, he is entitled to that opinion. But then he states that a Searcy is a better rifle that a Heym. He doesn't state that in his opinion it is better, but rather that it is better. I would have to see some quantitative evidence before accepting that statement. He also carps about the price of a Heym. Pricing of Heym products are not the prerogative of Mr. Bush. The value, and therefore the cost of an item, any item, is what the seller is willing to take for the item, and what the buyer is willing to pay for it, nothing more, nothing less. If the price is too high, then go on to something else. I would love to have a big Toyota Tundra, I think that is the model, V8, 4WD pickup with all the trimmings. The price for that rig is over $50K, so I'll continue to drive what I have. The fact that it is outside my budget range doesn't lessen my desire to have one though.

Can Rat chose a VC over a Heym and is more than pleased with it, which is wonderful. CCMDoc had a Heym and has a VC and he's perfectly happy, equally wonderful. A number of folks here on AR who haven't yet joined in on this thread, have VC doubles and are very pleased with them. That's great. I have no experience with the VC product other than seeing one or two on display. All I've seen looked very nice indeed.

In my opinion Dark Continent's hideous and garish description of some very fine engraving is unwarranted. But, it is his opinion and he is entitled to it. I too am not a fan of Germanic engraving. I'm not much a fan of any engraving. But, I do appreciate well-done scroll patterns on double guns, in modest amounts I would guess that whoever ordered the rifle Chris introduced here is a big fan of Germanic style engraving and is very pleased with what he got. If he didn't, I would have guessed that he would have ordered a pattern or style that a he did like.

CCMDoc, unless I'm badly mistaken, Chris Sells is the only one here that has business associations with Heym, he represents them in the USA, but he is not a Heym employee. I find nothing that he has written here that is puerile or in bad taste. Or, were you referring to Bockhunter's comments? I do not know who Bockhunter is, but I'm pretty certain that he is not a Heym employee.

All in all, if someone wants a Heym and can afford it, buy it. Ditto VC, Chapuis, Krieghoff, Searcy, or, H&H, Hartmann & Weiss, or Westley Richards for that matter. The choice is yours.

Great post! With any art, we can respect and admire, the skill of the artist, without wanting to possess it. Share your opinion as an opinion, but at least respect the artist and their work.

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But then he states that a Searcy is a better rifle that a Heym

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All in all, if someone wants a Heym and can afford it, buy it. Ditto VC, Chapuis, Krieghoff, Searcy, or, H&H, Hartmann & Weiss, or Westley Richards for that matter. The choice is yours.

+1

A very attractive rifle-that's for sure!
I would love to own such a rifle but only if it shot as good as it looked.I wish I could own and shoot them all and then discover which are really good.

Fellow AR members…. The rifle in question belongs to me and has been highlighted in a number of pictures posted here on AR (Mountain lion in BC, turkey hunting, African game, whitetail, fox, etc). The rife is absolutely a piece of functional art and I enjoy shooting it as much as possible. The fit/feel/finish and engraving make this piece something special. Moreover, I was able to meet the master craftsmen that built the rifle and spend time with the engraver at his home/studio and observe him working on various pieces.

I enjoy the various comments, positive or negative, as they are simply opinions of individuals and expressions of their taste, albeit, some more harsh than others. Nonetheless, I respect people's opinions as the fact is, they are not the one that wrote the check for this particular rifle so it matters not.

On another note, I ordered my daughter a Heym Deluxe grade double rifle in 375 Flanged for her high school graduation present and Chris Sells should be posting the pictures very soon. For those that enjoy double rifles with exquisite sticks of wood, fine engraving (various types on this piece), and superb finish, my daughter's rifle will make you smile.

On a finale note, I was contemplating taking the 450/400 (rifle of topic in this thread) to Australia in July for buffalo but the new Heym 577 (used this rifle on Black bear a month ago in BC) is getting the nod for this trip. BTW: even if you don't care for case colors, this rifle will make you think twice about it. Chris had the rifle case colored by Max Ern and his work is stunning. A number of pictures posted in hunting reports "Rest of the World" -- BC Black Bear with Double rifle.

I'm off to shoot my plain Jane Stoeger side-by-side "stage gun" I call STUMPY. It does make one appreciate the finer rifles

Thanks for all of the interesting comments.

I dont care for german style rifles and I certainly dont care about german over-the-top-engraving..

Cane rats photo of that .500 is a revelation in good taste IMHO..

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Originally posted by Pondoro:
I dont care for german style rifles and I certainly dont care about german over-the-top-engraving..

Cane rats photo of that .500 is a revelation in good taste IMHO..

Good taste, over the top, etc. It's all relative my friend. What a person likes and dislikes is really their choice. The most wonderful thing about this world is that we have as many choices as opinions. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Safari James,

Congratulations on your magnificent rifle. I am most envious.

Sorry safari James, for beeing a bit harsh....as you say it all boils down to ones taste..

Technically german doubles are very good, steel, workmanship and regulation...no doubt about it..

I do think the british got it right 100 years ago....I own one and have handeled quite a lot of the older brit rifles, as well as modern german ones. I feel that Krieghoff and Merkel tend to be to front heavy...I prefer the balance of the british rifles..

I do not like over-the-top engraving....to much of it nowadays on british built doubles too..

To me a double is a fine honed hunting tool..too much of a good thing, ie engraving etc. kind of perverts it..

Just my 2 cents...

James' second rifle...

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Originally posted by new_guy:
James' second rifle...

Very nice and great scope.

Mike

With a scope? Tell me it real isn't his!

HAHA! I had Heym build this rifle in 375 Flanged for my daughter as a graduation present. We had the scope added after much debate. As you might imagine, I will encourage my daughter to shoot as much as possible with express sites. However, being a 375 she will be able to reach out at 300+ if the need arises by adding the scope. The claw mounts make this a dream to take on/off.

A double rifle chambered for 375flanged or smaller without a quality quick detach scope and quality express sights with at least a standing and one flip-up for longer range is not a complete rifle!

There is nothing wrong with a scope on a double rifle. Scopes have been offered on double rifles by the makers as long as scopes have been available.

Unlike a single barrel hunting rifle, where the scope on a double rifle is a secondary sighting fixture, with the irons being primary. On the single barrel rifle the scope is the primary sight, and the irons are secondary or back-up sights.

This is the reason the scopes on either type rifle should be mounted in quality quick-detach rings and bases the return to absolute zero when removed and replaced.

Then there is the guy like me who have developed an eye problem making the addition of a scope sight on any double rifle or in fact any firearm necessary.

I have developed macular degeneration in my right eye, and I am right handed. So this is my aiming eye. In my case I am faced with mounting some sort of optical sight on all my double rifles regardless of chambering.

I need a one power on the low end in a illuminated scope because my bad eye can still detect the red or green dot and the bold reticle of a No 4 German reticle. With the one power I can shoot with both eyes open and the natural binocular effect makes for a faster, and more precise snap shooting on a close in moving target. With irons only, I can't make out the irons fast enough to get the quick one, two shots quick enough to get the best that is offered by a double rifle.

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Or, were you referring to Bockhunter's comments? I do not know who Bockhunter is, but I'm pretty certain that he is not a Heym employee.

Im not an employee of Heym. Im a fan of Heym rifles and the CEO of Heym is an (closer) friend of me. 2 times a year we go hunting togehter.

Gentleman, as we had the discussion about engraving before...
Here I send you some engravings of my double, witch is in the building process by Heym now.
It is an bespoken gun, I had some meetings with the (different) engravers in Germany.

I had some (in my option nice) english scrolls on the side and an animal at the button. I like it (but it is not an de luxe version, not so exclusive as the ones from Safaris James, because "Im not so rich" :-) )

Fin.

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A double rifle chambered for 375flanged or smaller without a quality quick detach scope and quality express sights with at least a standing and one flip-up for longer range is not a complete rifle!

MACD37: Looks like we have a complete rifle

I think my daughter is going to love it.

At some point a scope on a double rifle will be in my future. With aging eyes it is inevitable.

Very good choice on the scope for your daughter. I have a Heym in a 375 flanged that I put a 1-4 power in claw mounts. Great handling rifle that I have enjoyed over the years. I would not consider having a small bore double without a scope.

Mac, did you order your smaller-action 577 yet?

Bockhunter: Who is doing the engraving on your rifle?

This was M. O., an German master-engraver, who is specialist in scrolls engraving. (He do only scrolls, no animals, pp.)

That is good engraving,IMO.Not that I know much about engraving but that engraving speaks to me!

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Originally posted by Biebs:
Mac, did you order your smaller-action 577 yet?

Kindof. I have a "build date" in the schedule and a deposit down. Chris and I are still working out all the details.

Great doubles ,i need one for my buffalo operation ,i have an old mauser 458 but a double is great marketing .....and a pleasure to carry in the bush

SafariJames, A most beautiful rifle indeed and I am sure she will love it and have a lifetime of pleasure with it ! Congratulations.

Allow me one question - who opted for 375 flanged as the caliber and why ? A interesting choice.

Charlie

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Kindof. I have a "build date" in the schedule and a deposit down. Chris and I are still working out all the details.


Mac

Great, I love the idea of a lighter, more compact 577.