English Best compared to a Parker

[King Cobb]

Again, I didn't mean this as a comparison as to what is better. Mostly I am just curious if they are different enough to merit owning a nice London gun or if I should just put that money towards another Parker.

As an example, I do not feel a Fox or LC or Lefever or winchester, etc are different enough to merrit pursuing in my opinion. I would much rather just own another Parker.

English Best guns I have always read and heard were different enough from classic american doubles that it was almost a different shooting experience handling one.

[mobirdhunter]

The two are different. Feature for feature, an English best is lighter, (generally) made to minimal tolerances, has different handling characteristics, and made to order. Unless you order one, you are getting someone else's specifications -- but, still extraordinary guns. Actually, I see enough differences in the American maker's guns to want one (OK, more than one) of each. Are they the same as an English best? Very likely not in most "expert's" opinions (I am absolutely NOT an expert).

I have had wine that cost a great deal and had a great reputation, and have had wine that cost much less and tasted good enough that I could not tell the difference. I know it was my inability to discern the difference, but I am also sure that my biases probably came into play. Again, when you take bias out of the equation (not easy to do), you get two different kinds of guns.

Now, who the heck am I to say this?...just another guy with an opinion, and we all know what that means.