I intend to 'stay around' as DRs are my passion and, while I am new to this site, I have been collecting guns and shooting/reloading most of my life. (And I am an elderly sort, born in 1947.) I have other interests and am well aware of how some 'tussles' on these groups can get heated. And yes, sometimes pricking an ego can be the source of some venom. I've been a litigator for nearly 35 years and grew up in a household with two brothers and a lawyer, now retired Presiding Judge aged 91 year old father. I am used to heated debates on everything, and still get the benefit of my father's opinions when he comes in to 'help' at my firm three times a week.

I feel that Merkels have an unwarranted reputation as clunky and graceless, a bit too 'Germanic' or mass-produced for some. My response is 'ask the man who owns one' and has other brands to compare them with to form an opinion. I do own several and, as I have a collection of other DRs, can offer what I respectfully suggest may be a view based on my own experience rather than mere rumor. (Of course my opinions are hardly Gospel. They, like all of the others on this site, are no more, nor any less valid. They are opinions.)

For a 'base model' DR, the Merkel is well constructed, and sent out to the customer in excellent working order. As I said earlier, I do not consider any $10,000 plus weapon to be something that should be delivered to a customer in the condition some described regarding the Seacry that started off this fray. Nonetheless, I also recognize the loyalty and interest of his customers and trust that what was raised was the exception not the rule.

As for the Merkel line, they have been building DRs for many, many years and, as I also noted, their actions (SXS and O/U) form the basis for many other makers' products. They are well-versed in how to put together a fine rifle.

Nor are they 'dull' or pedantic in their efforts. Merkel can, and does from time to time, make some very special rifles that are a great buy and a true work of art. I have a marvelous 160 sidelock in 7.65R that is appropriate to its caliber, handles like a nice 28ga, is built like the proverbial fine watch, and (an ex-IWA gun) done with unique and superb engraving. I was fortunate enough to snag this and several others from this maker.

The only issue I had with Merkel is, as one author of a recent work on Dangerous Game Rifles pointed out, they can sometimes let their penchant for adding 'icing to the cake' overcome common sense. I was sent one of their "African Series" fitted with 23.5" oct barrels in 375. The smaller bore and build of the squared off bbls resulted in a Big Game rifle that felt like it had some big game standing on the end of the muzzles. The damn thing was impossible to balance or handle, and back it went. On the other hand, I owned (and sold for something else) a 140 in 500NE that I could swing around like a fine shotgun. Shot very well too. It compared very favorably with my WR 476 Droplock, which is a bit heavier but also finely balanced. Dave