Rise & Fall of American SxS's

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

Pete, what do you deduce from the fact they have fewer than ten doubles? Cabelas not taking them in? They are selling faster than they can replace inventory? People are not trading them in so much anymore?......

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I suspect it's a combination of factors but my guess is this particular Cabelas and probably many of them in the country have a hard time finding staff who can properly identify, evaluate and fairly appraise antique side by sides and they are not taking them in like they once did. This would lead to missed opportunities, overpaying then overpricing a gun, taking in guns with defects but not pricing them accordingly leading to a smaller stagnant inventory.

[J. A. EARLY]

Originally Posted by Pete Lester

I suspect it's a combination of factors but my guess is this particular Cabelas and probably many of them in the country have a hard time finding staff who can properly identify, evaluate and fairly appraise antique side by sides and they are not taking them in like they once did. This would lead to missed opportunities, overpaying then overpricing a gun, taking in guns with defects but not pricing them accordingly leading to a smaller stagnant inventory.

I've been to the Cabelas in Richmond, VA and am just amazed at the prices. The other night there were two 12 gauge Trojans that looked as if they had been run over by a truck. One was missing a floor plate screw that had been drilled out. Stocks could not be saved with a refinish. The prices were $1695. I asked where did these prices come from and I was told it was based upon what they paid. Poor suckers. I looked at an A5 Light 12 in similar condition. $999. The Parkers were $300 guns at most and the A5 was the same value and that is stretching it. They never check chokes to know if the barrels are cut or not, just set a price. They had a 20 Trojan one time and told me it was Mod. and Full. It was cyl/cyl with two inches whacked off. You don't want to ask the price. With prices like this, you can see why none of the new generation will ever buy a vintage double.

[Kensal Rise]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

Pete, what do you deduce from the fact they have fewer than ten doubles? Cabelas not taking them in? They are selling faster than they can replace inventory? People are not trading them in so much anymore?......





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While I know not what logic Cabela's may have, I do know what I was told at Jaqua's in Findlay OH.

About a year ago I dropped off about six very nice SxS guns, thinking they just might buy them outright, which has happened in the past. No. They reluctantly took them on consignment, saying "these were really popular a while back, but not so much anymore..."

They still took the guns, but only three out of the six have sold in almost 18 months. And Jaqua's sells a LOT of upscale guns. No shock to find Purdeys or an H&H on the rack.

I have my own opinions of Cabela's/Bass Pro Shops.

Bottom line: Love 'em and shoot 'em if you got 'em. Just like that '63 Stingray in your garage... it's a personal thing.

[Dean Romig]

Re: barrel flex - I know barrel flex can be a factor in rifle shooting, especially with the very high performance/muzzle velocity/muzzle energy cartridges... but not with a shotgun that was bored and choked to produce consistent patterns of pellet count in a specific dia. circle at a specific yardage. Barrel flex in a rifle might cause variations of fractions of an inch at 100 yards or some other specific yardage but a variation of fractions of an inch, or even an inch or two in a shotgun won't make a bit of difference at 40 yards.





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[BS]

The Cabelas by me does not want anything to do with buying them. The manager there has no experience with them and you can tell that he knows more about military surplus weapons because that what he collects and purchases for the store. I tried to sell them a Winchester model 21 16 gauge in WS1 and WS2 and they offered me $3,000.00 for it, the manager said they really don't sell well. Sold that weekend at OGCA for $6,500.00.

[High Brass]

I have even seen hostility toward sxs shooters. At a springtime sxs shoot in PA a few years ago, a group of course 'regulars' were following our sxs group. They of course we're riding a very expensive 4 person buggy with metal flake paint and chrome wheels. We were walking. Their guns were painted wild colors and I think one of them had a chrome plated o/u. After a few stations one of them approached our group and asked if we used kerosene lamps and candles in our homes. Did we drive a horse and buggy to the course? If no to these questions then why were we shooting old fashioned guns? And he was actually angry. We simply told him we shoot the guns that we like. He also said we must not care about our score. We told him we cared about our shooting but our score on clays was not that big a deal. I will say that after following us around the course, they realized that we were shooting about as well as their group and they got a bit friendlier. The anger about our gun choice surprised me.

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by George Stanton

I have even seen hostility toward sxs shooters. At a springtime sxs shoot in PA a few years ago, a group of course 'regulars' were following our sxs group. They of course we're riding a very expensive 4 person buggy with metal flake paint and chrome wheels. We were walking. Their guns were painted wild colors and I think one of them had a chrome plated o/u. After a few stations one of them approached our group and asked if we used kerosene lamps and candles in our homes. Did we drive a horse and buggy to the course? If no to these questions then why were we shooting old fashioned guns? And he was actually angry. We simply told him we shoot the guns that we like. He also said we must not care about our score. We told him we cared about our shooting but our score on clays was not that big a deal. I will say that after following us around the course, they realized that we were shooting about as well as their group and they got a bit friendlier. The anger about our gun choice surprised me.

I don't know about hostility but I have observed people not taking shooters of classic doubles seriously. Five years ago eight of us went on a spring snow goose hunt in upstate NY. Five of us were shooting doubles including Frank Cronin with his 5 frame hammer ten. Our guide was not too impressed with our choice of guns as people are usually shooting semi autos with extended magazines. He was overheard talking to his boss on the phone after the first group of snows came in and we dropped a bunch of them that we knew what we were doing lol!

[Phil Yearout]

My local Cabela's has about 4-5 sxs guns in the racks, and those same 4-5 have been there for a long time. I have seen 2 or 3 come and go over the past few years, but that's about it.

I lovingly refer to the guys I hunt with as the "12-gauge-autoloader-with-the-plug-out-crowd" and they think nothing of shooting 'em dry at whatever flies. They don't understand - and never will - why someone would go to the trouble if they're gonna pack a gun with only two shots in it.

[C.O.B.]

If owning and shooting a SXS puts me in the minority then sign me up! I have a Rem 1100 20ga that belonged to my little brother, he has been gone for 35 years and i have never shot the gun. There are two Win M42's in my possession but for the life of me I can't remember using one in the last 10-15 years. I have no O/U's. Everything I shoot shotgun wise be it for game or clays is a SXS.

[Southpaw]

I am not big in the shooting circles but this guy shoots Perazzi's O/U and he could even shoot one of their sxs, so why doesn't he. I'd bet he would if they wanted him to move a few guns for them. I think they make a SXS but its only a 12 gauge.

Anyway its a cool video and that is amazing to break targets at over a hundred yards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Teixm6JMw_k