School me on Double Barrel Shotguns!

[RMP91]

What's the most renowned maker of double barrels?

Have they ever been used prominently in any war or conflict by any side or a neutral party?

Which ones are most sought after as collector's items?

[runway1]

What's the most renowned maker of double barrels??

Maybe Purdy, maybe Holland & Holland, maybe Parker. Lots, really. You can find old Winchester Model 21s for $50k! You can find each in world class, exquisite $20k/$50k/$100k examples.

Have they ever been used prominently in any war or conflict by any side or a neutral party?

"Prominently"....shotguns?....No. Incidentaly, I would imagine so.

Which ones are most sought after as collector's items?

Maybe Purdy, maybe Holland & Holland, maybe Parker. You can find each in world class, exquisite 20k/50k/100k examples.

[RMP91]

I was thinkin' of getting into Coach guns, but don't have as big a budget for it as I would, for, say C&Rs.

Perhaps I can find an old WWI or II vintage Baikal somewhere?

[IntoForever]

I've seen the cheap ones at Big 5 and after noticing they all rattle when held, I'll pass on those.

[Oneaudiopro]

"Coach" guns are usually SXS varieties with exposed hammers. They can be bought for very reasonable prices.

[Javi]

Look at Stoeger's line of coach guns. I might get one for some cowboy plinking. I really like the Condor outback, now THAT looks like a fun gun:

http://www.stoegerindustries.com/firearms/stoeger-condor-outback.php

[jpscoot_21]

As a collector of shotguns, I can't remember seeing any military marked, but there are some such as Stevens 311 riot model that were made for police use. There were some that were used by banks and railroads for duty also. There are some fake Wells Fargo-marked ones floating around.

[Bigyates]

No one can school you on sxs shotguns in a single post or even in a large # of posts. Sidelock, boxlock, action types, English finest made in the handfuls or American boxlocks made in the 10s of thousands for the masses, there is a lot to learn.
Boss, Purdey and Holland & Holland certainly are highly collectable English guns as are Fox, Parker and Ithaca for collectors of American boxlocks but they are not the only makers.
If you really have an interest you might want to read:
Best Guns by McIntosh
British Sporting Guns and Rifles by Donald Dallas
Hey Day of the Shotgun by Baker
Paradox by Lake
to name a few.

During WWI Holland did make and sell some sxs shotguns to the Admiralty to be used in air to air combat. Initially firing several balls chained together made to rip the fabric of opposing aircraft or blimps. Once a rip was started the slipstream would rip away large sections of fabric. There was also an incendiary round developed for these guns called Aeroguns.

[RMP91]

Are Baikals and Stoegers ok to start with?

I don't care for all the fancy engravings or golden stuff, I care about function.

I don't want to spend any more than $550 for a double barrel right now.

Also, I am concerned about getting "pinched" or "bitten" by the hinge pivot, I know not to keep my fingers there at any time, but it's still a concern.

[gun toting monkeyboy]

lol. You guys left out all of the Italian gun makers. Many of those sell for as much as or more than the English guns. And as the others have stated, they really haven't been used by militaries since the American Civil War. And then, it was mostly with irregular cavalry. I have picked up old Stevens SxSs for $120-ish on GB. Old SxS shotguns are pretty inexpensive.

-Mb

[Specific Pacific]

What's the most renowned maker of double barrels?

Have they ever been used prominently in any war or conflict by any side or a neutral party?

Which ones are most sought after as collector's items?

Holland & Holland all the way; they retail from 20-150K

Winchester Model 97 trench gun was used in WWI/II and brought to the Geneva Convention by the Germans because they wanted it banned for use in warfare. Remington model 11 and other Browning variants were used to train gunner crews on bombers... the list goes on and on... and they are always collectible by someone.

[Thefeeder]

><

Purdey....Francotte....Merkel ....Perugini....to name a few more

[gun toting monkeyboy]

Holland & Holland all the way; they retail from 20-150K

Winchester Model 97 trench gun was used in WWI/II and brought to the Hague Convention by the Germans because they wanted it banned for use in warfare. Remington model 11 and other Browning variants were used to train gunner crews on bombers... the list goes on and on... and they are always collectible by someone.

Fixed it for you.

[Newshooter]

You can have a Purdey 20/28 gauge combo set for a mere $250,000.

It does come with a leather case and brass snap caps. Saw it in Bass Pro in Vegas.

[redcliff]

Are Baikals and Stoegers ok to start with?

I don't care for all the fancy engravings or golden stuff, I care about function.

I don't want to spend any more than $550 for a double barrel right now.

Also, I am concerned about getting "pinched" or "bitten" by the hinge pivot, I know not to keep my fingers there at any time, but it's still a concern.

I like the little Stoeger coach guns; they were the trainer's for my sons, starting in .410, then 20ga then 12ga as they grew up. My LGS sells quite a few of them and says they have very few problems with them. I've not shot a Baikal.