Rise & Fall of American SxS's

[Wilmurt]

An Outdoor Life article on The Rise and Fall of the American Side-by-Side Shotgun, The highs and lows of a classic icon

https://www.outdoorlife.com/rise-and...tlua00sfOpq.03

[Kensal Rise]

There are a few nuggets of wisdom in this piece. If you know how to read into them.

No. 1:

"More and more, it appears that the side-by-side shotgun, both American and European, is fated to become a niche item—the Morgan sportscar of the shooting world."

And No. 2:

"...we can never escape one crucial fact: A fine side-by-side is a thing of beauty."

In plain language, the SxS double gun was revived and thrived because it had cachet and appealed to a segment of society that knew what a Morgan was. They also appreciated beauty. Beauty of design, fine craftsmanship... and style.

As these people and their more sophisticated taste leave the marketplace, the magic of great double guns fades from the public's collective conscious.

To be replaced with movie and video game-inspired black guns. Killing machines without soul or grace. Suitable for the mass murder of wildlife. And nothing more.

The perfect reflection of the times in which we live.

[Big D]

The Morgan - Ah yes, one of the few cars with a wood frame, and I think the early ones were three wheelers

[OH Osthaus]

Originally Posted by John Dallas

The Morgan - Ah yes, one of the few cars with a wood frame, and I think the early ones were three wheelers

yes there was a three wheel Morgan, the frames were and are steel - the body supports were ash as were many English cars - up to a Rolls
the MG -up to the T series actually had a partial wood frame plus the supports

but the Morgan is a survivor- the newest ones still exude the same class

on topic - i think the SxS has been a niche for a long time - and likely getting to be smaller - since our fathers (for us old guys) came home from WWII

when it was time for me to get my own gun - we went to the shop and I picked out a 20 ga SxS - a Fox B if i remember correctly- my father asked why i wanted one of those old fashion guns and bought me a 16ga pump gun

as for the new shooters- first there are many fewer of them- and secondly - most of us i would bet grew into doubles, the new shooters go with what they can afford and what is advertised to them

[C.O.B.]

I don't think this lack of interest is confined to SXS. Most young people will pick up a synthetic stocked rifle package for under $500 vs a pre64 M70. The nostalgia and panash of the older guns is lost on out youth I'm afraid.

[Wilmurt]

I've been fortunate to have a son (now 23) who blesses every American side by side I own. He loves the look and chit chat of other shooters at the sporting clays range with their semi-autos, pumps, 30"/32" O/U's when he brings out the hammer Parker or Model 21 with 26" barrels and nary missing a shot. Smokes them all. We've both been blessed with a family heritage and tradition of good guns and even better dogs (Llewellins, of course)...a spirit I believe will be lost in the next 50 years if not sooner and that's sad.

[Big D]

The Morgan assembly line

[OH Osthaus]

Originally Posted by John Dallas

The Morgan assembly line

Right - those are the body panel supports

[Mills]

The decline is not limited to guns either. I understand the antique furniture market is way down (like 1/3 down). Old books, which I have collected, are down from historical highs as well. The question is whether it is permanent or just a down trend of a cycle.

[Dean Romig]

John Campbell nailed it in a few short paragraphs.

I believe our classic SXS collecting and shooting niche is in a trough between two swells. Almost everything once appreciated for its classic style and beauty eventually comes back into style, if even briefly and as a new-found fad. Problem is, we old guys may not live long enough to enjoy the resurgence of these things we loved.





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