Empire375, I have no idea what the difference in price would be in OZ for thet double you are looking at, but in the USA they can be had for around $8K usd "USED"! Looking at the picture you posted this rifle seems to be one of the newer ones made on Mono-block barrels, and most of those imported into the USA are ejector rifles.

I have a couple of Merkel double rifles, a 140-2, 470NE Safari and a 140E-1, 9.3X74R. Both are well made, and are real shooters. Both are Shoelump barrel sets, and the 470NE is an extractor rifle, while the 9.3X74R is an ejector rifle.

The biggest difference between the Merkel 500NE, and the 470NE rifles is the weight of the 500NE is lighter than the 470NE rifle, with a good bit higher felt recoil over the 470NE rifle, both having the same barrel profile, with the 500NE haveing a bigger hole through the barrels. The 500NE rifles I've handled were all around one pound lighter than the 470NE. With this in mind, if you have shot the Sabatti chambered for 500NE, and it is no problem for you then the Merkel will be less problem with the recoil, and far less problem with quality control of constrction. I wouldn't trade either one of my Merkels for a half dozen Sabattis if I had to keep them! Just my opinion, and worth exactly what you paid for it here!