Ray

I'll explain my earlier comment.

I was pointing out things aint always as they seem, vested interests and all. Some people are just ehthusiasts. Some people have a commercial interest.

My view[/ii] is based on the following;
1) my personal experience with doubles is not great. Give me twenty years and we will see.
2) I feel the best value doubles in Oz are English doubles. There are some excellent gunsmiths here that can look them over and give a report of whether there is any problems. Keep them all from heading North-East. However they are still expensive.
3) Searcy - never handled one, they look OK from the photos, BUT if you imported one to Aust after buying it retail, freight, insurance, fees and taxes, you should be able to easily buy an English double, which will keep its value.
4) Merkels. I considered buying one and at A$7000 to A$9000 for near new ones hardly used they are by far the cheapest nitro doubles.
As for looks I have a shottie that is similar and I am a barbarian with my firearms, using them hard so really shouldn't have something too fancy as it would be a waste.
5) Krieghoff. Would think about one but the Krieghoff new was near in price to my Jeffrey and would depreciate immediately after the sale.
6) Chapuis. Don't really like their looks, but that just my opinion.
7) Heym. No idea, never seen one.

I would assume we could easily find people that love one of them and hate the others, for each of them.

I would buy one of these EAA doubles for US$600 in a medium calibre. Why not! If it shoots it does. If it doesn't you haven't blown a house deposit on it. Bit ugly though. I am looking at buying a (edited for a comp) 9.3mm asa medium double for hard use. If it is light enough it would be my sambar mountain rifle.