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One of the marvellous things about this forum is that the members represent a wide diversity of opinion, experience, and personal taste concerning double rifles.

However, I chuckle to myself whenever Brit doubles are accused of being worn out or stuffed, needing thousands of dollars worth of restoration, or some other mysterious chantings or black magic to put them right. (..this, after 50 to 100 years of hard shooting, mind!) Personally, I seek out such rifles for 3 reasons: 1. they may still be within my price-range; 2. they haven't been 'truly stuffed' by some over-enthusiastic gun-restorer; 3. I really enjoy a gun which wears its history and past accomplishments well.

So-called faults like a loose action, for instance, are easily fixed. Re-regulation, if required, is a no-brainer. Triggers and locks can simply be adjusted. The only real problem that can't be easily fixed is bore condition. If the bores are stuffed, and the individual barrels won't group, then forget it. Everything else is fixable, and the more obvious the faults, the easier to negotiate a good price!

Personally, I cringe at the ghastly electric-purple re-colouring I see on so-called restoration jobs, likewise a perfect stock finish on a rifle which has obviously seen a campaign or two. Double rifles are first and foremost for hunting and shooting. If they have been fully restored to fine condition, and carry the price-tag to prove it, they are more often than not relegated to 3D oil painting status, and their hunting days are over.

I prefer a rifle with plenty of wear and tear, I can afford to buy it, I can afford to own it, and I can afford to take it hunting. I can shoot the hell out of it, in fact, with a perfectly clear conscience. A hunting rifle gets dragged through the swamps, carried through pissing thunder-storms, covered in bloody fingerprints, mud, and dirt, and may sometimes have to go a day or two without seeing an oily rag. I KNOW most Brit doubles will take this in their stride. They were designed and built for use in the far-flung outposts of Empire, to go for years without seeing a gunsmith, to be absolutely drenched in sweat and blood, and carried through the most extreme tropical climates on the planet. I know they will cope because that's what happens to mine!

I can also understand buying a Searcy for exactly the same reason!

However:
...next time you're desperate to off-load a crook pommie double, Nitro476, just give me a call!

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Marrakai
When the bull drops, the bullshit stops!
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www.marrakai-adventure.com.au

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