MopaneMike,

I have handled some of the old Kersten style U/O doubles from Merkel and this is a very amateur assessment - they handle very differently from the British guns because the frame is very high and the gun sits very differently in one's hands. You might want to visit the shop and try the fit before you decide to buy it, especially when it's a question of $ 9000+. They are nice guns and doubtless someone who is more experienced than I am (and that includes most members here) would find them easier to shoot but it may be annoying to handle one of these compared to SxS guns.

Best wishes and do let us know what you decide on.