If Money Was No Object, What Would You Buy?

How many times have you had the conversation with your friends in a gun bus or over a shoot lunch ‘if money was no object, which gunmaker would you get to build you a shotgun’? Well we asked that exact question in our Game Shooting Census 2017/2018 sponsored by Strutt & Parker, and the results are in...

1. James Purdey & Sons

Perhaps not surprisingly, the top two most common answers to the question by some margin were English gunmakers James Purdey & Sons with 22.3% and Holland & Holland with 19.4%. These two London based brands have global recognition for having fantastic heritage and exceptional craftsmanship.

^{A new James Purdey & Sons Damascus over-and-under}

2. Holland & Holland

^{A classic Holland and Holland 'Royal' side-by-side}

3. Beretta

Following the two front-runners, comes a heavy-weight in its own right. Beretta (11.08%) make the nation’s most commonly used game guns. The Italian giants are one of the oldest existing companies in the world and have unbelievable experience in making brilliantly reliable shotguns. From the trusty Silver Pigeon costing between £1,500-£2,000 to their SO10 which is priced in excess of £55,000, they have something to offer every budget.

^{Beretta SO10}

4. Boss & Co.

In fourth place comes another of the English contingent; Boss & Co, of which 7% of people answered. Established in 1812 and now based in Kew, London, Boss are all about the gun and do not sell any clothing products or accessories.

^{Boss & Co. over-and-under}

5. Browning

The second most commonly used game guns are Browning of which 6.9% of people said that they are the brand they would get to make them a gun if money were no object. It is quite incredible how Beretta and Browning are able to cater to such a vast audience at so many different price points: it is testament to the quality of the products that they make.

^{Pair of Browning B25 D5G side plate}

6. Perazzi

Following Browning come Italian gunmaker Perazzi with 3.3%. Perazzi have made such an impact on the clay shooting world with great success in the hands of Olympic medalists as well as global superstars such as George Digweed, it is not surprising that they are becoming more and more common in the field.

^{Perazzi over-and-under with SCO side plates}

7. Longthorne Guns

The seventh most answered brand is a relative newcomer in the gun making world compared to the company it keeps in this list. Longthorne guns was founded by Jim and Elaine Stewart who launched their first model in 2010 and have certainly realised their aim of combining modern technology and materials with traditional methodology and design and have made such huge inroads in such a short space of time that 2.9% of people answered Longthorne.

^{Longthorne Rutland}

8. E.J. Churchill

After Longthorne come another two English based brands; E.J. Churchill (2.8%) and Boxall & Edmiston (2.7%). E.J. Churchill, now also famed for their fantastic shooting ground and successful sporting agency located in High Wycombe have been synonymous with quality for 120 years. However, Shropshire based Boxall & Edmiston like Longthorne, are comparatively new kids on the block having been formed by Peter Boxall and James Edmiston in 2009. Using high-tech machinery, Boxall & Edmiston are another exceptionally innovative English gunmaker at the start of their exciting jouney.

^{Pair of E.J.Churchill Premier over-and-unders}

9. Boxall & Edmiston

^{Boxall and Edmiston 12 Bore Square sideplated over-and-under}

10. William Evans

Last but certainly not least: 1.8% of people said they would have St James’s Street gunmaker William Evans build them a gun if money were no object. They are renowned for their well-priced Connaught and their top end Pall Mall side-by-sides, as well as their St James over-and-under offering.

^{William Evans St James over-and-under}

GunsOnPegs are pleased to say, that most of the brands in this list, as well as many others will be exhibiting in London at this years World Gunmakers Evening 2018 on May 17th in London. If you are unsure who you would have make you a shotgun; buy a ticket, come along and decide for yourself!

The Game Shooting Census is a collaboration between GunsOnPegs and Strutt & Parker, producing the biggest survey in game shooting each year, giving wonderful insight into the sport and the trends that develop.