[Rampant Colt]

It's just 100% fun vintage doubles event held every April in beautiful North Carolina! The Brit's are all there, tons of cool stuff for sale, great shooting, beautiful venue! https://www.southernsidebyside.com/

I’d love to go but don’t really have what it takes to be an exhibitor or be in a competition as I’m 60% blind. I sure would love to see the 40% I can….especially Lou from Connecticut Shotgun.

Love NC, lived in Mt. Airy for a short time. Beautiful country…..and anywhere beats Oklahoma in the Spring. 🌪

 

[Stubee]

Wow, just beautiful! I’ve owned a couple 1920s Ithaca doubles but nothing like those pieces of art. I did develop a love of SXS through the experience and now have a dirt cheap + nice Uggie, but sure love looking at guns like yours.

 

[Gearhead]

My Dad used to get down to basics by saying that all objects consisted of glass, plastic, steel or whatever compositions made the basics of the product. However, when assembled in a way (such as your shotguns are) I tend to think of them as objects of art. Those two firearms have achieved that goal in my eyes. Beautiful.....just beautiful ! Most definitely the centerfold of anybodies collection.

 

[Rampant Colt]

My Dad used to get down to basics by saying that all objects consisted of glass, plastic, steel or whatever compositions made the basics of the product. However, when assembled in a way (such as your shotguns are) I tend to think of them as objects of art. Those two firearms have achieved that goal in my eyes. Beautiful.....just beautiful ! Most definitely the centerfold of anybodies collection.

Thank you, I really appreciate those sentiments.

 

[Phil in Alabama]

Your guns are beauties! I admire the British doubles; a real one is simply unaffordable to me so I found a Spanish SxS Grulla 12 gauge in the Brit style that I could get. Straight wrist, splinter forend, double triggers sidelock.

 

[Rampant Colt]

Your guns are beauties! I admire the British doubles; a real one is simply unaffordable to me so I found a Spanish SxS Grulla 12 gauge in the Brit style that I could get. Straight wrist, splinter forend, double triggers sidelock.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, brother. 🍻

 

[Rampant Colt]

My wife has a commercial sublimation printer & press. She whipped this out for me last Sunday. Imagine my surprise.

 

[FlysAlot]

I’d love to go but don’t really have what it takes to be an exhibitor or be in a competition as I’m 60% blind. I sure would love to see the 40% I can….especially Lou from Connecticut Shotgun.

Love NC, lived in Mt. Airy for a short time. Beautiful country…..and anywhere beats Oklahoma in the Spring. 🌪

Well, I will keep you company and walk around with you if you'd like. We always have big fun!

 

[S&W 10]

…..and anywhere beats Oklahoma in the Spring. 🌪

Awww, come on; perpetual high straight line winds, copious quantities of large hail, the godless hoards of tornadoes, an endless supply of venomous creepy-crawlers, etc. never hurt anyone…Oh, wait…

I can see a Watson Brothers and a Boss in your future 😉

 

[Rampant Colt]

Well, I will keep you company and walk around with you if you'd like. We always have big fun!

This is one of the most kind gestures I’ve ever heard of. You are too kind. Let me think about it and see what arrangements I can make to get there.

 

[Roger Allen]

Geez Scott, those are outstanding, didn't know you strayed that far away from Colts! You need to update your 'signature line' by adding British Doubles to the Colt collecting addiction comment. You should take @FlysAlot offer, don't have to shoot, but better take a bunch of cash! Sounds like a lot of fun and weather should be great too!
I've always loved that fine English style engraving, had a Frnchi in the early '70s that was covered in similar style...but a long way from that class! I too would be tempted to a glass case display of those...you can't 'enjoy them' in the back of a safe.
Still waiting for my Colt letter...another couple of months! It's on display in a curio sitting on that 3D printed hand.

 

[Roger Allen]

I wonder if I could use this preservation technique on myself. I'm getting kinda wrinkly as the years progress.

Might want to try simple old fashioned baby oil....Joe Canali at Colt Archives told me to use baby oil once a year on my ivory grips to keep them looking 'young and new'....prevents age cracking he says. I won't live long enough to know, so I'm taking his word for it. If good enough for Elephants, ought to do the trick on us old humans! Just don't handle anything (other than Wife) after applying.

 

[FlysAlot]

if mobility is an issue they rent carts but the sale tents venue isn't overly huge. Raleigh, NC is the closest city about a 40 min drive to the show.

Sadly you can not bring enough $$$ to the show. My buddy and I stopped estimating at 200k on one table.

 

[Rampant Colt]

Sadly you can not bring enough $$$ to the show. My buddy and I stopped estimating at 200k on one table.

I wouldn’t necessarily have a budget (if this 28 gauge Lancaster goes south). I’d specifically be looking for 16, 28, or 410 SxS’s….and honestly just the 28. For the right one I’d prefer to keep it around $20K or less…..and at that level it would have to be a Holland & Holland, Boss, or another Purdey. Other makers would be significantly less…but if the gun is right I’d be inclined….after all, I’m looking at a Lancaster.

 

[tfrank]

Thank you for posting those pictures!!! Those two shotguns are truly works of art!!! Really enjoyed looking them over in minute detail!!! Absolutely gorgeous!!!
God Bless, Frank.

 

[Rampant Colt]

Thank you for posting those pictures!!! Those two shotguns are truly works of art!!! Really enjoyed looking them over in minute detail!!! Absolutely gorgeous!!!
God Bless, Frank.

Thank you, Frank.

 

[Rampant Colt]

Might want to try simple old fashioned baby oil....Joe Canali at Colt Archives told me to use baby oil once a year on my ivory grips to keep them looking 'young and new'....prevents age cracking he says. I won't live long enough to know, so I'm taking his word for it. If good enough for Elephants, ought to do the trick on us old humans! Just don't handle anything (other than Wife) after applying.

Joe is correct. A drink of baby oil OR just straight mineral oil will do the trick. And keep them out of direct sunlight.

While both oils are petroleum based….mineral oil is inert.

 

[Rampant Colt]

Geez Scott, those are outstanding, didn't know you strayed that far away from Colts!

As you might expect, Colt manufactured two models, the 1878 SxS (hammer guns, produced from 1878 to 1889). In 1883 they debuted the model 1883 SxS (hammerless, produced from 1883 to 1895). It was a short lifetime, thankfully.

They were simply crude coach guns in either 10 bore or 12 bore. Their Damascus barrels left a lot to be desired, two patterns, twist & Turkish. I’m sure they were effective but they were certainly nothing special. Very few survived in pristine condition due to their line of service. I think I’ve seen more with broken stocks than those without.

Suffice it to say they were in over their heads when compared to the other American made SxS’s. Discretion is the better part of valor.

If I could find a pristine model 1883 I’d buy it in a heartbeat. That day hasn’t come and I doubt it ever will.

 

[Rampant Colt]

Might want to try simple old fashioned baby oil....Joe Canali at Colt Archives told me to use baby oil once a year on my ivory grips to keep them looking 'young and new'....prevents age cracking he says. I won't live long enough to know, so I'm taking his word for it. If good enough for Elephants, ought to do the trick on us old humans! Just don't handle anything (other than Wife) after applying.

Roger, I know Joe, and what he told you is correct. But, if we look at baby oil and mineral oil closely, you’ll see why I’m a bigger fan of mineral oil.

First off, they’re both identical petroleum based oils, with the caveat of baby oil containing fragrance, emollients, and antioxidants. None of those are going to help your ivory, soft tissue like skin, sure….but not ivory.

Mineral oil on the other hand is as pure as the driven snow. It’s even used as a laxative in humans so we know it’s safe.

When all is said and done your SAA won’t smell like a freshly swaddled baby…but you’ll achieve the exact same results.

But, by all means put whatever you’d prefer on them. Who am I to judge?

 

[Roger Allen]

But, by all means put whatever you’d prefer on them. Who am I to judge?

Thanks for that input/clarification, I will use mineral oil....my remembrance of those 'baby days' does not need rekindling by any method/means, olfaction or otherwtse! When Joe told me that, he may well have been using the term more generically. I'm getting anxious to get my letter...still hoping the engraving is 'B' level, as Joe thought might be after seeing the photos I emailed to him. I'm also hoping (but not expecting!) that part of the letter 'package' might include the original Custom Shop order form...just guessing that they may possibly retain them. Maybe I should give Joe a 'status update' phone call and slip that question into the conversation. (?).