The Fish Scale checkering is really very nice. The shotgun is nicely engraved with a bit more elaboration than a Parker D grade as a comparison.

I believe the gun was made in 1957, most likely for a serviceman stattioned in Europe. The Whiteline was his addition of his to make the gun more comfortable to shoot. I plan on getting it replaced by a solid rubber pad. It is in excellent condition overall and for the dinero paid was a steal that our Frog leg eating Frog would be envious of.

Send me the dimensions at the stock and hole spacing. I have some nice horn and solid rubber butt plates that might work with some fitting.

Hey tabs,

One of the "spoons" I want is a Belgian-made FN-FAL. Something like this

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=131312613

Do you have any thoughts on the collectability of those - are prices too bubbly right now, what should one pay and are they likely to lose, hold, or gain value from here?

Or like this

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1247801309.jpg

Hardly tabby. I am into English and Italian shotguns. So no envy for your Guild gun. Altho I do like German and Austrian rifles.

the receiver on that looks very SKB. is there a functional purpose to the reverse 'L' raised bit?

3500 was light for that gun.

Frog eatin Frog...for 1000 U would not have thought twice about buying that gun...U could have used it for cannon fodder for one of your precious snooty ENGLISH guns...or one of those Itie jobooos..or U could have suddenly had an ephiny and learned to love it.

A friend of mine has several FN FAL's. Back in 68 they were banned from being imported, my friends numbers were just over what the BATF considered to be legal. They took his guns and he took them to court. The Fed prosecutor made the case that any guns over the legal serial range was a "machine gun." My friends attorney stated that, what was the difference between a gun that was one serial # away from the legal guns..The judge threw the Feds out of court warning them about reckless proscution and consfication.

Thanks tabs.

The value of the Belgian FALs lies in the limited supply, because they can't be imported any more, correct? So a better investment bet than an AR that is being cranked out as fast as the mfgr can run the line? But, are these Belgian FALs guns that can't be shot for fear of losing value?

Nowadays the BATF fabricates/plants evidence to ensure a conviction, and the judges gleefully hand out prison sentences. :mad:

I did not say you paid too much, did I? Try adjusting your meds again. :rolleyes:

I have shot many Merkel style O/U. Mechanically they are strong. They are not very well developed as far as design goes; the development stopped about 1910 -1915. They don't impress me with handling, being far more "club-like" than pure wingshooting shotguns. This is due to the nature of the local hunting styles and customs. They are heaveir than need be and often have the "cartoon" style animal engraving, which has never appealed to me. Therefore I would not have ever wanted to purchase it.

Maybe someday you might have an "ephiny" and see that you primaraly collect at the low end of middle quality shotguns.SmileWavy

So what the fk is new FrogO...I collect the low end of middle quality everything....

Shotguns for me are an after thought..I want them to go bang...

"So what the fk is new" is you being presumptuous enough to try and tell me what I would or would not purchase.

But , lets not quarrel over such trivial matters. It is interesting to me how the British and Italians have continued to refine the shotgun, while the Germans and Austrians have not.

The Germans and Austrians have continued to evolve the rifle (and I don't mean military arms), while the British and Italians have not. The French and Belgians, with the exception of the Darne, have also abandoned (apart from production efficiencies) shotgun and rifle evolution efforts.

I see that as a result of cultural differences, not innate technical abilities.

ya know what guys, hanging shotguns on the wall or locking them away in glass cases is missing the point anyways. until you've been surprised by jumping quail/dove or swung on a high passing goose or pulled up on a black duck that snuck into your spread you have absolutely no concept of what makes great shotguns great. you can read about it and regurgitate it but like driving a great car it's just not the same thing.

so if either of you guys actually use your shotugns for something other than measuring your peckers i congratulate you and suggest you do more of it. grab one of those beautiful old sxs's with double triggers and a box of Federal papers and go chase whatever game bird you have access too. some of us can only wish to have access to such neat stuff and bickering over where your 'collection' falls in the price range of old guns is just silly.

maybe i'll see if i can find some old 'hunting with hank' episodes on the 'net somewhere and cleanse myself of this ugliness.

Why doncha just go and peddle yourself right on over there while your at it.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1247866046.jpg

no push down the stairs reference? i'm a bit disappointed.

I've got a new camera so here's a gun photo :)

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1247866961.jpg

Had the occasion to fire one of those in the military.

What a truly marvelous weapon.

Hmmm, why do you think I only look at my firearms??????????????

I hunt every year. I hunt Red deer, Roebuck, fallow buck, Chamois, Boar, Afican antelope of several species, rabbits, hares, more type of birds than you can shake a stick at and with a pellet rifle and pistol every insect off my terrace with eyesight, flying or crawling.

I shoot every one of my firearms, from black powder to smokeless and air. I reload the uncommon calibers and repair and refurbish firearms (I used to work in the British guntrade) as a hobby for friends.

So, I think my opinions have some validity.

On the FAL?

It's a carrying handle.