My most used double rifle, and in fact my most-used rifle in the hunting field (by far), is a Jeffery box-lock ejector chambered for the .400 Jeffery cartridge.

Gunmaker: W.J. Jeffery

Appox manuacture date: As a guess, early 1930's

Calibre: .450/.400 x 3-inch Nitro Express

New or pre-owned: Definitely pre-owned

Condition when bought: External metal-work worn and refinished, ie action rust-blued (?), refinish is now worn in all the right places. A few honest dings in the wood, nothing major. Wood is dark, but nice. Action is still tight, bores are VGC to EX (best I've seen in a pommie nitro double). Shoots very well.

Special Features: Southgate ejectors, game-scene engraved action (Jeffery Maharajah-style), fully-engraved trap grip-cap, engine-turned rib, moon-sight, dolls-head with third bite. (Try ordering all this stuff on a Searcy!)

Did you have it checked over: Sort of! ..gunsmith mate who acted as the transaction-dealer dropped the floor-plate off, and also checked the timing of the ejectors, before I took delivery. He was just curious. Did the rest myself. All was well.

Any problems subsequently: nil

Ammo regulated: Recommended load from Graeme Wright's first book regulated perfectly. Very boring, actually. Just point and shoot.

Commercial interests: nil

IMHO, British guns are the go. Its true that a 'working' boxlock is over-priced in the US nowdays because collectors snap up 'any' pommie doubles, and this has forced up the price in Australia as well. Regarding the purchase of a used double rifle (of ANY origin, not just British): you would have to be a dill to buy any double before checking it over, and I wouldn't buy one without a range-test for accuracy and regulation. Any problems are easily spotted or discovered during inspection/testing: its not rocket-science!

How many Chapuis, Merkels, or even Searcys will still be going strong in a hundred years time? Existing Pommie doubles have already stood the test!