CLASSIC AMERICAN SXS POLL

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Pete Lester

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

I quite agree Pete. Time... It's all about economy of time. My life is a complex exercise in multi-tasking for now so, until I am able to retire and (hopefully) enjoy more "free" time, I have to settle for what sort of shooting I want do in the little time I am able to take for myself. Someday though...

[King Brown]

Model 21s are great guns but they don't enter the pantheon of classics for me because of what I consider lacking harmonious proportions, a sort of "clubiness," as I also feel about the Brownings I've seen. Neither make comes near the magic balance and levitation of my hammer Parker 16 0 frame---nor do any of the others.

[todd allen]

Originally Posted by Mark Ouellette

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!

This was such a great response, that I decided just to quote the whole post.
I have owned all of those guns as well, with the exception of the Lefever.
There is no question that the Parker Gun has some magical ability to cast a spell. (Ask me how I know)
How the Lefever managed to make it all the way thru the last century, without the tribute it deserves is truly a mystery to me. I will one day own one.
I have hunted with LC's, Fox, Winchester M 21, Parkers, etc. etc. I will always own Parkers, but my go-to gun for the past decade or so, is a beautiful little H&H Royal 12 bore. 30" bbls, 6 lbs 5 oz. I drag this gun all over the place chasing birds, and it is by far the fastest to the shoulder, and the deadliest gun I have ever shot. I even back-packed it up in the mountains of Colorado for Blue Grouse. (10,500 ft elevation)

[Autumn Daze]

Allow me to add my two cents worth.I like others have owned Parkers,Fox's, Ithaca's and Smith's. I have never owned a Lefever but a close friend has a late boxlock Lefever 20 gauge and the gun is simply wonderful. If I ever have an opportunity to acquire one I will be very seriously tempted. All the American guns have their strong points and weaknesses. I like the style and simplicity of the Fox gun and the adjust ability of the Lefever and we all know the Winchester 21 is hell for stout. But Parker is my love.

For me if I could only own one gun I think it would be a fairly light 16 gauge 1 frame graded gun with 28" barrels and a half pistol grip stock equipped with double triggers. I think it would be versatile enough for most anything I ask of it. The 1 frame would give me enough options on loads to put through it.

Wow! Thank God I can have more than one though....

[C.O.B.]

As I ponder the reality of semi retirement, the current economy, and the future generations of SXS collectors and shooters in relation to the safe full-o-guns and the investment they represent I have come to the solemn conclusion that haveing only one gun is an impossible consideration. Here is why. Grouse hunting IMHO requires an open choked, straight stocked gun of no larger than a 20 guage or a 28 or better yet both. Pheasant's rain from the sky via a bevy of 16's and 20's. Rabbitts roll through the powdered snow after meeting a charge of 6's from any of the above mentioned guages. My go to SC gun is a GHE 16 skeet.

While I have several 12's (I'm really not a 12ga person) my favorite is a grade 3 hammer gun. The one guage I could live without however is the 12 but living with only one shotgun is impossible. Now don't get me started on rifles

[Tom Will]

I wonder how many can say that they have shot all of the guns mentioned, Parker, Fox LC Smith,Lefever,Ithaca,Baker,Iver Johnson,Winchester,Remington,Colt, the list goes on and on. For me, I think I like I shoot the Parkers and the Winchesters best. So many doubles and so little time and money.

[C.O.B.]

A small bore Ithaca grade 3 or higher is on my wish list.

[J.B. Books]

I wonder if the poll results will look different when an inevitable ban of lead shot is put in place

[John Truitt]

Originally Posted by Tom Will

I wonder how many can say that they have shot all of the guns mentioned, Parker, Fox LC Smith,Lefever,Ithaca,Baker,Iver Johnson,Winchester,Remington,Colt, the list goes on and on. For me, I think I like I shoot the Parkers and the Winchesters best. So many doubles and so little time and money.

I have shot all the above except for the Colt and other stuff like meridans, baltimore arms, midlans (did I spell that right?), etc.
I was fortunate enough to have a father who appreciated all of the above and enjoyed shooting them for hunting (hard hunting) and clays and always allowed me full use of any of them whenever I wanted.
It was with many years of full use of these different brands that allowed me to find what felt best to me and that I shot the best and that "talked" to me.
We are lucky to have so many different types to choose from. They are like people, many different kinds. Find what lights you up. It may be just one or only from one maker, or like my dad it might be all of them.

I for one agree with Mr. Lester. 12 ga is king and for me make it a Parker.

[6pt-Sika]

Well lets see !

I'm VERY partial to the 10 , 16 and 28 gauges .

I shoot skeet , trap , some birds and OF COURSE deer !

So I'd need one that could be used for all of the above .

I have a nice old W.C.Scott 10 gauge damascus gun with 28" barrels thats done very nicely on the skeet field , dove fields and the deer stand !
But it's not american !

I have a Parker 16 gauge GH damascus gun that I've not really done a whole lot with even though I've owned it better then 7 years now . But it should be great for birds and skeet with an outside shot at deer !

The 28 which I no longer have a gun chambered for would pretty much be a bird and skeet only item !

So then for me the ultimate American made side by side would have to be a Parker BHE in 10 gauge with 28" fluid steel barrels choked IC/M with 3 1/2" chambers . Now I doubt very seriousely that they made a BHE in 10 gauge with 3 1/2" chambers choked IC & M but it is a fantasy isn't it !
To make it easier any Parker GH grade or better in 10 gauge that was 90% or better with 28" barrels damascus or fluid steel , choked IC/M , 2 7/8" or 3 1/2" chambers !