| AzGuy |
| (.333 member) |
| 21/05/07 03:49 AM |
What Was Your First DR
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I think most of us would agree that the decision to purchase a DR is a combination of romance, nostalgia, reading too many old African books/stories, and being a reasonably educated "gun nut".
I'm guilty of all of the above. Based on my experience, I'm thinking more people buy Big Bores (40 cal +) than small to medium bores as their first DR.
My first DR: 470 Searcy
What was yours?
| Savuti_One_Shot |
| (.300 member) |
| 21/05/07 04:02 AM |
Re: First DR
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Wilkinson BLExt in 450/400 3 1/4" NE.
And for exactly the same reasons.
SOS
| 500Nitro |
| (.450 member) |
| 21/05/07 04:43 AM |
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Re: First DR
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Holland & Holland Underlever Hammer 500/450 3 1/4" NE
It used to be Graeme Wright's old gun that
is written up in his book.
| mickey |
| (.416 member) |
| 21/05/07 05:52 AM |
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Re: First DR
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Paton 450 light nitro.
| dnovo |
| (.333 member) |
| 21/05/07 10:16 AM |
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Re: First DR
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Holland & Holland 8 bore. Dave
| hoppdoc |
| (.400 member) |
| 21/05/07 10:47 AM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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470 Merkel, same reasons--
| Raff |
| (.300 member) |
| 21/05/07 12:23 PM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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577-3" BPE Alex. Henry.
Been infatuated with hammer doubles ever since.
Raff
| Chasseur |
| (.375 member) |
| 21/05/07 12:52 PM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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Same as mine today:
Chapuis UGEX, 9.3x74r.
| AzGuy |
| (.333 member) |
| 21/05/07 02:09 PM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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Chasseur,
Is that the same rifle or the same caliber?
| Nighthawk |
| (.224 member) |
| 21/05/07 06:22 PM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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Blaser S2 in 9.3x74R
| zimhunter |
| (.333 member) |
| 22/05/07 10:34 AM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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Cogswell & Harrison 450/400. It was available and first double I'd ever seen. I was 16 years old.
CptCurl
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| (.450 member) |
| 22/05/07 10:45 AM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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Well I have previously spilled my guts on this very same topic:
Please Tell the Story of Your First Double Rifle
Curl
| hoppdoc |
| (.400 member) |
| 22/05/07 11:22 AM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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I had read about Doubles for decades and wanted one because
I had finally decided to hunt Africa.
I wanted one so bad I bought a Merkel 470 NE sight unseen over the internet from a fellow 3000 miles away.Thank God the references, work info,etc and deal worked out. I sweated getting that gun like crazy until it arrived.
You have to have the hots pretty bad to risk sending Thousands of dollars by cashiers check to an individual you have only spoken to a few times over the phone--
I call it Doublemania!!
| bigdog |
| (.375 member) |
| 22/05/07 11:50 AM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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A 700 nitro express Searcy double, 2nd double will be a Ken Owen 4-bore, should have by December.
| AzGuy |
| (.333 member) |
| 22/05/07 01:34 PM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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Curl,
Thanks for sharing your perivious post.....great story, well written and brought back memories of lots of my own "trades"...
| AzGuy |
| (.333 member) |
| 22/05/07 01:39 PM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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BIGDOG,
You are really into "BIG"..... a 700 ??? For your first DR?!?!
It would take alot of Jack Daniels (somebody else buying
) to even get me to "think" about shooting a 700!!Hope you like it!!
Thanks for sharing.
| Marrakai |
| (.416 member) |
| 22/05/07 01:53 PM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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My story is up on Curl's link too, couple of posts down from his.
| bigdog |
| (.375 member) |
| 22/05/07 02:04 PM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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Arizona, I had been wanting one for along time and there was one avialable for trade early last year, so I got it. I have been shooting big bores for about 25 years. I do like it. You know when you have been shooting with it. It is doable once you get used to it.
| AfricanHunter |
| (.275 member) |
| 23/05/07 08:32 AM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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My first one was a beautiful mint Cogswell in .450 3.25 BP. C&H wanted to reproof it to Nitro. Well, it failed, then got stolen from ginshop operator in New York recommended by no less thjan Jack O'Connor. Never did get to fire it.
So, my really first one was a Boswell 450 #2. I used it on my first safari to Tanzania 35 years ago, taking elephant and buffaloes with it.
| Chris_Smith |
| (.224 member) |
| 23/05/07 10:39 AM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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My first, and likely only, is a G. Little 500 Black Powder Express 3 1/4. It belonged to my best friend. He passed away in December and I bought it from his family. I am begining to learn how to handle it and have gotten it and myself to shoot well enough that I feel mostly confident that I can make a wild boar have a bad hair day. Thats about the only semi dangerous critters around here excluding snakes.
| AzGuy |
| (.333 member) |
| 23/05/07 11:08 AM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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AfricanHunter,
Do you still have the Boswell?
| 450 |
| (.300 member) |
| 23/05/07 11:46 AM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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Baikal 9.3x74R and no regrets. Now that it is scoped and regulated it will be my main hunting rifle for all deer. Heading to Northern Territory in October to hunt pigs, buffalo and a scrub bull. Loaded with 286 woodlieghs it will do the job.
| Bramble |
| (.375 member) |
| 24/05/07 09:26 AM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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The one I've just built. (450#2)
| bouldersmith |
| (.375 member) |
| 24/05/07 10:45 AM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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Willam Evans super magnum paradox, I havent shot it yet. Working on my second now, an Alex Henry in what I believe is .360bpe, 2 & 7/16" case. Fun stuff.
Steve
| Rustyzipper |
| (.275 member) |
| 24/05/07 07:57 PM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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Valmet 412. 12x12 and 9.3X74 o/u. RZ
| 500Nitro |
| (.450 member) |
| 24/05/07 08:00 PM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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bouldersmith
Willam Evans Super Magnum paradox,
Is it a Sidelock Ejector, ex Maharajah's gun ?
Sold one to a mate.
It was No 2 of a pair.
| degoins |
| (.333 member) |
| 25/05/07 12:07 AM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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my 1st and only so far is a Searcy 450-400.
| bouldersmith |
| (.375 member) |
| 25/05/07 01:36 AM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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500
mine is a best quality ble, extended top tang, intercepting sears. Yes it was one of 17 guns order for the raj, number 4. I've held number 1 of the set, owned by an eye doctor in NZ. Did you get yours to shoot at 1500 fps?
Steve
| Spring |
| (.300 member) |
| 26/05/07 05:30 AM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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Only one for me, too: A Beretta 455 in .470NE.
| Rolland |
| (.333 member) |
| 26/05/07 09:27 AM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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A Pedersoli Kodiak IV in 45-70 Why? cause thats all I can afford and I wanted a double rifle.
| NE450No2 |
| (.375 member) |
| 26/05/07 11:17 AM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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Rolland
My brother had a Kodiak in 45/70 for a while.
That is a good double for North America. No reason to, feel like a "second class" DRSS Member.
They shoot as well as any double I have shot.
| nitro476 |
| (.300 member) |
| 30/05/07 10:05 AM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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A Rigby 470 boxlock.
| es |
| (.224 member) |
| 30/05/07 12:43 PM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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Thomas Bland 500/450 # 1 ex b.p. Sold it to a friend so I could buy # 2 and no amount of whining or begging will get him to sell it back. neat old gun. simply flattens Texas deer and Hogs.
| greyhoundzr1 |
| (.224 member) |
| 30/05/07 01:34 PM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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Searcy PH in 470. This rifle has brought back the excitement in reloading and skills training. Will accompany me to TZ in 2008.
| 500Nitro |
| (.450 member) |
| 30/05/07 05:48 PM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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bouldersmith
Yep, same gun.
And I know where the No 2 is as well !
| srose |
| (.300 member) |
| 30/05/07 08:34 PM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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Chapuis 375 H&H, always wanted a double and bought my first about 6 years ago. Need to go to double rifles anonymous now. My friends say I need help! Its an addiction that can't be stopped. Have more than I want to count now.
| bouldersmith |
| (.375 member) |
| 30/05/07 09:36 PM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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500
mighty small world....#2 isnt for sale is it? I'd love to shoot mine to its potential someday, ever work on loads for yours?
Steve
| 500Nitro |
| (.450 member) |
| 30/05/07 09:43 PM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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bouldersmith
No, but what is interesting is as I was selling that one
to you know who, I found the No 2.
And yes, I am trying to coax it out of the owner so
we can get them back together.
I think I just worked out who you are - just after
No 1 was sold to you know who, someone else in the
US wanted it.
Was that you ?
| bouldersmith |
| (.375 member) |
| 30/05/07 09:50 PM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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500,
that wasnt me, I believe it may have been our very own Gatsby. I love these guns. A friend also has an Evans 20 bore sidelock paradox gun, very nice indeed, though not part of the 17 gun set.
Steve
| 500Nitro |
| (.450 member) |
| 30/05/07 10:10 PM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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That's right, it was Gatsby as we have spoken about it
off line via PM.
Quite pissed actually !!!
Another good example of not to dither if wanting a gun,
especially if me or my mates are around !!!
20 Bore sounds good - any pics ?
| bouldersmith |
| (.375 member) |
| 30/05/07 10:17 PM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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I'll see what I can do, I'm supossed to go, visit and take some pics soon.
Steve
| gatsby |
| (.375 member) |
| 31/05/07 12:37 AM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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Evanthough I was looking for a Paradox, my first double was a Greener 577/500 #2.
500nitro
Yeah I missed out on the Evans but it literally took months to get a spec sheet and photos on the gun, maybe because your sale was eminent. I really wanted that gun for the unique engraving. There is another pair out of the set of 17 engraved similarly in England.
Bouldersmith
I had heard another of the 17 surfaced at a Colorado gun show last week.
| bouldersmith |
| (.375 member) |
| 31/05/07 01:20 AM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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Gatsby,
depends on what you mean by "another of the 17", I believe mine was the only one there, at least I didnt see another. Although my friend did bring the hammerless 8 bore that George now has on his site.
Steve
| gatsby |
| (.375 member) |
| 31/05/07 01:39 AM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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Yeah when I talked to George I wondered if that was yours. The 8 is nice but boy thats a pretty steep price for a grade 3 gun.
| bouldersmith |
| (.375 member) |
| 31/05/07 01:53 AM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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Its nice, and not alot of hammerless 8 bores out there. George seemed to like my gun, why not, I do.
Steve
| gatsby |
| (.375 member) |
| 31/05/07 02:11 AM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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Thats true, not alot of 8s but with so few, many of them have unique features.
| 500Nitro |
| (.450 member) |
| 31/05/07 05:32 AM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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Quote:
Evanthough I was looking for a Paradox, my first double was a Greener 577/500 #2.
500nitro
Yeah I missed out on the Evans but it literally took months to get a spec sheet and photos on the gun, maybe because your sale was eminent. I really wanted that gun for the unique engraving. There is another pair out of the set of 17 engraved similarly in England.
GATSBY
No, it wasn't because of me, it's just the way
he works if he is busy.
I think you'll find a few others turn up as well.
| gatsby |
| (.375 member) |
| 31/05/07 11:14 AM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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500Nitro,
Well tell the good Dr. I still covet his gun and for the good of his surgical skills he should sell it(the full load will give you a terrible flinch), preferable to me.
| 500Nitro |
| (.450 member) |
| 31/05/07 11:26 AM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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Gatsby
I am afraid that we have a policy - that if I get him guns
and vice versa, we each have first option on them if and
when one of us sells them.
But I will put you in the queue - behind me !!!
| gatsby |
| (.375 member) |
| 31/05/07 02:40 PM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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Wow, that queue is getting long for an old "beater" Evans ball and shotgun.
| 500Nitro |
| (.450 member) |
| 31/05/07 03:04 PM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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No, your in the queue after me.
I have 4 - 7 people wanting some of my other guns
so the queue for the Evans is short !!!
| bouldersmith |
| (.375 member) |
| 31/05/07 09:36 PM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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Its the Docs .303 Gibbs I covet, among others. I like his taste in guns, good stuff. I seem to remember a certin Grant sidelock underlever.....I think I'm still loosing slep over that gun.
Steve
| 577express |
| (.275 member) |
| 01/06/07 03:39 AM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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I was 28 at the time and it was a webley & scott 250/3000 savage. I broke the stock while out stalking deer with it and was truly devastated. I paid to restock it and then years later sold it to Don Shrum of cape outfitters.
| livinus |
| (.224 member) |
| 06/06/07 08:31 AM |
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Re: What Was Your First DR
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I was doing my military service at the time and had to scrape pennies to meet the asking price of 1200$. I still own it: a J.Pire (belgium) boxlock ejector, 9.3x74R, with a Hensoldt scope (claw mounts).
Livinus