I've cruised the web a bit more looking at doubles. My, oh my; but they are the cream of the crop. The prices reflect that.
It seems like the majority of doubles are big game guns and small ones are really rare. I found a Holland&Holland 22 Hornet double on gunbroker. Well out of my toy budget, but a really nice looking item. I also saw a 20g that was sleved down to 22 Hornet. Neat, but priced higher than I thought the workmanship (on a cheap shotgun) was worth. Also, I'd like a 22lr. 22lr doubles are really, really rare guns and those I've seen command real money. Undoubtedly worth that money, but not something I can justify right now. Something I may be able to plan toward, but not in this years cards by any means.
It makes me wonder, would enough people buy a double from NEF if they offered them? Could they do a good enough job for a good enough price? If they put one out that was on par with their singles (which are good shooters but not much for looking at) and put it out for about $500 or $600 I know I'd jump; would enough others jump to justify their cost of development? I don't know. I hear that some one is offering a double barreled muzzle loader (haven't seen but have been told) so it seems that some one is buying them. Why not a cartridge gun?
Anyway, my search goes on. Probably just fantasy land for now. Maybe when I'm all grown up I can have one. (A yound whipper snapper of fourty years now) I may try my hand at sleveing a 401 down to 22lr, just to see how it goes. I imaging it will be a bear to regulate them, but it could be a neat winter project.
