CLASSIC AMERICAN SXS POLL

[Steve Hodges]

This poll has been running on ShotgunWorld. Only 193 votes so far. Doesn't mean much, but interesting. And 16 gauge is in the lead!


If you could own one classic American double barrel, which one and which gauge would it be in?


A. H. Fox 20% [ 39 ]
Browning 2% [ 3 ]
Ithaca 2% [ 4 ]
L. C. Smith 14% [ 27 ]
Lefever 5% [ 10 ]
Parker Bros. 8% [ 16 ]
Winchester - Mod. 21 8% [ 16 ] x
10ga 1%[ 2 ]
12ga 6% [ 12 ]
16ga 17% [ 33 ]
20ga 10% [ 20 ]
28ga 5% [ 10 ]
.410 1% [ 1 ]

[Dean Romig]

Graded Parker Bros. straight grip, DT, twenty-eight gauge, 28" on the 00-frame.

[J.B. Books]

I am not too impressed with those poll results. If one is limited to a single doublegun, something that would have to be used for everything, turkey, geese, ducks, pheasants, quail, dove, trap, skeet etc and even deer hunting. The vote has already been taken in the marketplace, the 12ga has dominated the shotgun market in doubles and repeaters for more than 100 years. By virtue of it's popularity it is the most economical to shoot as well.

As far as which manufacturer, again not very objective. We all know the Elsie had a flawed stock design from the get go that plagues those guns to this day, yet they are the 2nd choice for only one gun?

Now as far as Fox being the #1 choice? What if that one gun were to break? Tell me where all the original Fox parts are if they need repair? Thanks to the DelGrego family an inventory of critical parts for Parker's still exists.

If I am stuck to one classic American doublegun it would be a 12ga Parker, probably a V, P or G cause it's gonna get some hard use if it's all I have.

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Pete Lester

If one is limited to a single doublegun, something that would have to be used for everything, turkey, geese, ducks, pheasants, quail, dove, trap, skeet etc and even deer hunting.

Hey Duke - Cool your jets.

That's not the question that was asked.

For the kind of shooting each of us does (for me it's skeet, casual SC, grouse and woodcock) what would be the choice?

[Steve Hodges]

Thats whst's great about these "polls" per se, they generate lots of discussion

[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

I own Parkers, Smiths, Foxes, and Lefevers. While I own more Parkers, I like them all. Each maker/design has it's strengths and weaknesses in both physical and fuctional terms.

Parkers are a grand gun with good engraving from the E/G Grade 2 guns and up. The engraved birds are however not from this planet. Parkers have far too many internal parts. The stocks do split at the head but are easy to pin or run a bolt through.

Lower grade, especially post 1913 Smiths, those with named grades such as Field and Ideal, definately are prone to stock splitting at the rear apex of the lock plates. The higher grades had better craftsmanship on the inletting and tend to split less.

The Fox is a simple design. These guns have a well earned reputation. They are also easy to repair.

Lefevers, especially later ones, are perhaps the best designed American SxS. They have few internal parts to wear and/or break and the lock plates are easily removed for cleaning the action. Their stocks are equally as easy to remove. That is not true for Parkers and especially Smiths.

Lefevers have external adjusting screws for the sear engagement and to shut off the automatic safety. Perhaps the best feature is the Lefever "Fully Compensated Action". This is possible by a ball and socket in which the barrels and action are connected. The ball within the action is easily adjustable. Why, why, why didn't other makers employ this feature?
- Also, all (or at least most) makers paid royalities to Lefever to use their patents. That's why early Lefevers are marked "Lefever Arms Company Maker and Patentee".

Those of you who do not or have not ever owned and serviced the other maker's guns please do not cast uninformed stones!

[charlie cleveland]

it would be a hard choice for me...but if all i can own is one side by side i guess it would have to be a 3 inch lc smith 28 inch barells and improved cly and extra full.... i also like the lowly stevens.... charlie

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

Hey Duke - Cool your jets.

That's not the question that was asked.

For the kind of shooting each of us does (for me it's skeet, casual SC, grouse and woodcock) what would be the choice?

Kind of a shame you have such limited pursuits. You oughta get out more Dean

[King Brown]

I may be close to the average North American shotgun shooter, influenced by peers and consumerism, of a craft not known for its business acumen. In the beginning, it was enough to have a shotgun and it was mostly doubles then. I bought one of the first Winchester Model 50s in Canada, then 1100s and went back to doubles because I didn't like the mechanical clickety-clacks. Doubles seemed more a part of me. What we read and what experts say are a powerful influences on our preferences. My guess is the poll reflects that---and maybe age (Fox and Elsie) as we go to smaller gauges. Parker placement is a puzzle. I don't consider the Browning or Winchester as classics.

[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

King,

Perhaps Parker ownership is limited compared to Smiths and Foxes? There were many times as many Smiths built as were Parkers. As I understand, Parker was reluctant to enter into the affordably priced portion of the market.

As for Winchester model 21's, they should be a great gun since they had decades to learn from any mistakes the other makers made.