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Uber Expensive Shotguns - who's buying these things

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Houndog

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
So I'm sitting here in the snows of upstate New York trying to amuse myself by looking at expensive shotguns, and trying to get a feel for what a decent used Ljutic Mono might run me if I decide to get one down the road.

Also having fun looking at Perazzi, Krieghoff, Kolar, etc. But even used these are some pretty expensive shotguns. However, because I am an admitted gun nut I can understand spending $8-10,000 on a shotgun if you are a top notch trap shooter, love the sport, shoot a ton of rounds and/or have the money.

But then I come across some dealer who sells used Holland & Hollands, Purdeys,etc. Holy cow. $50,000? $100,000? $200,000? Who is buying these guns and what are they doing with them? Surely not taking them down to the local trap range and putting them in a rifle stand next to Billy Bob's Mossberg pump. In fact, since these are all "bespoke" shotguns made for the measurements of the original owner, if you are buying them used they presumably aren't even going to fit you. Are these guns even shot, or are they just very expensive paperweights? In fact, I have to wonder how they even shoot - although I guess if you are the original owner they are custom made to fit you exactly.
 
#2 ·
Gunsmith I use went to London a few years ago and went into the Rigby showroom. He said they were very very nice to him.

Apparently their bespoke guns begin-note the word "begin"- at 50 000 UK pounds. And the waiting list is 2 years.

So I guess enough people are buying them to make it worthwhile to keep making them.
 
#5 · (Edited)
And $200,000 won't even buy you the truly best of the best of The Best of Bespoke guns and rifles. While I have been to Westley Richards, and would love to own a new gun from them, made for me, I'd have to choose Philipp Ollendorf as THE one I'd go to for the best gun.........

Ollendorf, Philipp of Austria – German Hunting Guns

.

Or, if I want one that's possibly considered still better than that, one from Peter Hofer, but it'll cost you $400,000 to get into his best

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Image


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#6 ·
Houndog said:
So I'm sitting here in the snows of upstate New York trying to amuse myself by looking at expensive shotguns, and trying to get a feel for what a decent used Ljutic Mono might run me if I decide to get one down the road.

Also having fun looking at Perazzi, Krieghoff, Kolar, etc. But even used these are some pretty expensive shotguns. However, because I am an admitted gun nut I can understand spending $8-10,000 on a shotgun if you are a top notch trap shooter, love the sport, shoot a ton of rounds and/or have the money.

But then I come across some dealer who sells used Holland & Hollands, Purdeys,etc. Holy cow. $50,000? $100,000? $200,000? Who is buying these guns and what are they doing with them? Surely not taking them down to the local trap range and putting them in a rifle stand next to Billy Bob's Mossberg pump. In fact, since these are all "bespoke" shotguns made for the measurements of the original owner, if you are buying them used they presumably aren't even going to fit you. Are these guns even shot, or are they just very expensive paperweights? In fact, I have to wonder how they even shoot - although I guess if you are the original owner they are custom made to fit you exactly.
Click to expand...
The people buying expensive English shotguns are the same kind of people driving expensive cars and wearing expensive wrist watches.
They all have one thing in common: Expensive maintenance. So it's not if you can buy one, its if you can keep up one if you actually use it.

I know some of the people bought a Holland and Holland Royal Game gun never shot it more than a handful of times. They kept it as safe queen.
It's a common practice that after the hunting season, you sent your H & H game gun back to factory for "after season" cleaning, check up and upkeep. That'll usually cost more than a Browning XT each time.

A $15000 mile ceramic brake job on an AMG Mercedes is $2800. Relatively cheap compare to a 15000 mile scheduled service on a Bugatti is $29000.

A "recommended" yearly Rolex Sub cleaning is about $400. Relatively cheap considering a three year factory check up and "Review/renew" of a Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar is $4800.

There's a reason Perazzi and Beretta are dominating the Olympics and International events, they require very little maintenance, and its inexpensive to fix.
 
#10 ·
Expensive shotgun is a luxury item that is just for your own enjoyment. Once it exceeds certain price, they all shoot the same.
A $10,000 standard grade MX8 shoots exactly the same as a $50,000 SCO sideplate gun.
 
#12 ·
35 years ago i was in a highend gunshop. He had a sxs 375 H&H INits own glass guncase. Owner walked up while i was looking at it and said to me. What do you think thst is worth. Take a guess. I said i have know idea. But 30 or 40 thousand dollars. He said i was close. Add another 160 thousand dollares to it. Said tooke him two years to recieve the order. Still their today. My brother goes all over the world big game hunting. Each trip he buys a new gun for that trip. But won't go shoot at any club. Says its to expensive .
 
#15 ·
It probably follows the same pathology of all consumption of luxury items. I would say that the act of acquiring a high end shotgun is in itself the reward.
Exclusivity. The personal fit, the craftsmanship and the feeling of owning a handmade piece from a bespoke shop.

How many are actually used? I honestly don't know, but would guess they are mostly show pieces that are admired among collectors and friends.
 
#17 ·
In the late 1970s I worked for a Dr. (PhD) at the University of Missouri who had a Holland and Holland 2 barrel set that he shot skeet and hunted quail with. He took off the month of December to hunt in Missouri and January he hunted in Arkansas. He purchased a Famars engraved by Rizzini when he began vacationing in Mexico so he would have a gun for duck hunting.
 
#19 ·
My personal theory is :
"owning a fancy/schamsey gun makes one think his talley is a bit bigger than the next guys", ....and of course, you look better when the scorekeeper cries "LOST" ..

I've always preferred durability, comfort, and function. Beauty, as we all know, is skin deep, and only hits put an X on the scorecard! Rolls Royce, or Rolls Kenardly...(rolls down one hill, and can hardly get up the next)....your dime........, merlyn
 
#20 ·
I have always been very competitive. On any given day I can hold my own on the trap field with just about anyone. I can't even own the prettiest most expensive gun in Elbert county. So what is the point in getting in the game? Get something that shoots well for you and doesn't break all the time and put your coins in learning how to use it.
 
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