Cheapest American Gun vs Cheapest British Gun 

“American guns were designed to go out and get food” spot on mate. Especially the shotguns.

“American guns were designed to go out and get food” Yeah, last time I tried that both the Judge and Taco Bell were quite pissed off at me 😂😂😂😂

“They’re both built for Hobbits” caught me off guard

I am so surprised that guns (any gun) is that affordable in the UK. As an American my view and I assume most people believe it is very hard to get a gun and when you do it is super expensive. Glad to know our British gun enthusiasts have some affordable options

The increased felt recoil on the Ithaca is likely due to a sharper angle of the forcing cone. A lot of especially older American shotguns have a short forcing cone, as much as only 0.5 inch, with a steep angle. British shotguns of the period seem to always have slightly longer forcing cones. Nothing like the 4 inch forcing cones being specialty cut by specialty gunsmiths for competition shooters now, but even a marginal change to the angle of the forcing cone can really affect the perception of recoil.

People seem to forget that there were many US companies making exquisite grade sxs shotguns during that period. Lefever, Ithaca, Parker... made shotguns built to last but were as ornate or more so than your Ithaca. They built the 'agricultural' versions for the common man but in essence would build you whatever you wanted or could afford. Sadly, the great depression along with Browning's 1897 and A-5 along with Johnson's Winchester model 1912 pushed those fine manufacturers to the brink. 100+ plus years and she's still a pretty girl. She has seen an active life and I salute her previous owner(s) for using her as she was intended.

I would love to see you restore this gun and take it to America with you and see what you could get for it🙂

Are you sure the Ithaca is 2-3/4” chambers? If it’s old enough to be Damascus, it might be 2-5/8” chambers. That could account for the additional recoil

This is the most British gun video that’s ever been created I’d bet. There’s no rock and roll or tannerite. Just a good ole chap speaking like a gentleman about fire arms.

john wilkes.... Booth??!?! USA INTENSIFIES!!!!!

Man it still blows my mind how big a difference in pricing there is. It’s hard to find a decent quality field grade box lock for less than 1500 in the US, and if you want anything other than a 12g it’s even more.

"John Wilkes".??????.....Really? Wow, I can just imagine some guy from Virginia using one and shouting, "Sic semper tyrannis" As he knocks birds out of the air. Bit of inside humor for Southern Americans. Also, someone remind me to fly to the UK the next time I want to pick up an older American gun; because, well, DAMN.!. THAT WAS CHEAP.

That Ithica is a steal. i would want that bad.. Ithica has a storied past...

I didn’t know the UK had affordable doubles. All you ever hear about in America are H&H or Purdey and they cost as much as a house

It makes me sad when I look for a classic SxS in the States, you're met with a pile of 'had the snot shot out of if' with a price tag reflective of "I know what I got - no low-ball offers!" Only to see across the pond, Brits saying 'Meh' to them not being of the finest British ilk and selling them dirt cheap! I wouldn't be sad if someone wants to box them all up and send them home where they belong.

I own a C.G. Bonehill SxS 10 bore " Hammer gun , made in Birmingham , England 1875. I have a Fox Sterlingworth 12 bore made in the US in 1911. A Borgeshi SxS 12 bore made in Italy in 1964 and lastly a Stevens 311A SxS in 16 bore made in 1962. I hunt with them, and love each one for the reasons that each have very positive features.

As an American, I truly enjoyed and appreciated your review. It was quite fair, and in-depth. I'm glad to see there is still a bit of gun culture across the pond. I hope you can come visit and shoot to your hearts content here.

As American. My collection has a fair number of Ithacas. Anything graded or sub guage is quite collectable. In most cases though the field grades are pretty well used.

Best places to buy UK based guns online for us in USA please and Thanks

The UK does not have ANY semi auto designs? Man I wish we had those old guns for $25 back here at home.

Ithaca is by far my favorite shotgun manufacturer with their history and designs, as well as being (somewhat) local to me. I think I have 4 of them, and I'm always finding more that speak to me...

Johnny thanks for yet ANOTHER cool video! Ithaca, Lefever, and Baker/LC Smith were all built in the same general region of NYS. Smith and Lefever were in Syracuse for a while. Ithaca was about 35-40 miles South of them. Workers from each factory would tend to "migrate" depending on business situations. Take a look at engraving from all three and you will see different patterns but generally similar styles. Lefever was eventually bought by Ithaca.

One thing about England that I like is that they still use these guns for what they were meant for. Guns like this in North America would get cleaned up and end up left in a collector's case.

Hello friend! American here. When you said, "American guns were designed to put food on the table," you are not wrong. I inherited that exact shotgun from my great grandfather, who used it to put food on his family's plate during The Great American Depression. And I know he used them to put food on table for my family because I was also able to find 2 boxes of Remington paper bird shot shells, that my Great grandfather has used to convert birdshot shells into wax slugs/ whammy shells. The gun dated back to 1919 and the shells were from 1929. My grandfather used to tell us stories of how my great grandfather used make those shells because he couldn't afford Slugs or Buckshot.

The british-made guns I’ve shot have all been excellent. I’m sure the lower end guns suffer from the same issues that lower end American guns do.

I think the wider separation of triggers is because when you're shooting for sport you're in more comfortable weather but when you're shooting for food you tend to be doing it in all weather even when it's too cold for sports shooting so people tend to use gloves more

I love my British brothers

I didn't even know Brit gun RU-vid was a thing. VERY different beast from the perspective of a U.S. hunter. I've never even really thought about the design aspects of my old break actions. Or the racks and racks of them in the used gun stores. When there's all these new fancy hunting rifles, ARs, pistols, etc. everywhere... It's easy to kinda overlook the basic bare bones tried and true tools we pick up every Turkey season. Great video.

Thank you for this video. It was really interesting seeing a perspective from the UK on gun design and shooting methodology!

Nice vids as usual. Great to see the differences in style and the evolution of the guns depending on the need for the game being shot! Interesting...

My granddad used a pair of Ithacas for clays and a Fox 16 for upland game. He never felt the need to upgrade.

Baikal 12g, side by side, box-lock, double trigger, ejector, 28" barrel, I got mine second hand mint condition £40

Here in the US, The most common 'Utility grade' boxlock you'll see is probably a Stevens 311 of some variety. Cannot tell you the price on them, since they're usually ahnd-me-downs and heirlooms and 'here, hunt with this' sorts of weapons.

An enjoyable and informative video, beginning to end. Of course, that is what we have come to expect from you every time. Well done.

still keeping my springfield model 5100 alive, may replace the barrel because the latch was somewhat worn upon purchase, but im glad it has held up for so long.

Cool video showing the differences. I have my great grandfather's double barrel SxS 12ga Central Arms. I have not shot it in awhile due to it liking high brass shells better . The shorter aluminum base expand and make it hard to open. I should take out this weekend. It has a nice thump to it and call it thumper now lol. GOD Bless you and your families

Hard to believe the value of the Ithaca is so low there! I picked up a AYA #3 that came out of the UK for $600 USD, that’s in wonderful shape, Ana a AYA Yeomen, in rougher shape for $400.

Could someone kindly explain why these guns go for so much less in the UK than in the US? Is it due to fewer buyers in the UK? Thanks.

Fascinating comparison. The second hand/private market in the states typically allows you to find firearms for lower prices. I'm from the rural Midwest where private sales and trades are very common.

Ithaca tried may action designs over the years. The Crass didn't last that long, Ithaca graded guns had good wood fancy checkering. The $1000 or Sousa grades are truly works of art, American guns of that era tend to have a lot more drop at heal than most Brit guns, that makes for more felt recoil. Most of our hunting is what you would term rough shooting. 2 3/4" 12 ga chambers were standardized early on. Big loads and tight chokes are the norm.

Ive got a ithaca model 37 featherweight in 16 gauge or bore for you brits lol and absolutely love it for upland hunting and small game in general... been having a itch to take it out for some clays and see what score i can get with it.... my grandfather bought it after coming home from the Korean War ive been told and it was passed down to me after his passing

U said the recoil is heavier in the American one. Well its probably because it has a neutral balance like u said. wait forward in an old gun like that means less jump when fired where as a back weighted gun will be more responsive to aim

The ithaca model 37 that slam fires in 12 ga makes a great brush gun.

Surreal seeing SxS break guns in a RU-vid video guntubers have spoiled me.

That is one beautiful piece you got there! Cheapest gun you can get though is like 20$ on Amazon, single shot typically like .22 caliber weapons that I wouldn’t trust, even if I’m expecting it to kill me when I shoot it

My granddad was born in ireland lived in ireland Until he was nineteen and came to america He went Poaching for food, most of his life. Probably shooting british guns both were meant to get food And both were meant four sport

Interesting comparison. Thanks for sharing

Does the Ithaca have intercepting safety? The pins high up behind the fences might hint at that.

Both of these guns are beautiful i like how you view them fair and point out the uniqueness of them both

4:51 😂 knew I was comin did ya ? Good on ya.

I'm from Ithaca, and am now a student in the UK funnily enough. Ithaca Gun Company's quality has been immaculate through just about all of its history, and employs artisan gunmakers to this very day, albeit in Ohio rather than in New York now. Their firearms were favored by several historical figures to include Annie Oakley. Also back when they were still in operation in Ithaca, if you knew an employee, you were allowed to put in special orders for handfitted gold or platinum plated parts or engraving/inlays, among other custom requests. They also fulfilled government contracts and produced 1911s, 1911A1s, and Ithaca Model 37s during WW1 for the former and WW2 and Vietnam for the latter two, very rarely one will pop up through the Civilian Marksmanship Program and demand the highest prices among collectors due to their quality and rarity. The original Ithaca Gun Company factory has long since been closed and demolished, except for the smoke stack, I wish they would have kept it as a small museum. I'm hoping to stay and work here in Wales after my studies, and eventually once I am allowed to get a shotgun certificate or firearms permit, I'm really hoping to get my hands on an older manufacture Ithaca 37, assuming those are legal here as the old models are slamfire capable. But its also really cool that some of their older models such as the one in this video go for so cheap here.

That video was way to short! I could watch videos of classic hunting arms all day! What’s interesting to me is the American doubles were probably better suited to your driven game while you’re British lighter weight, faster handling doubles were actually better for our (USA) walked up game. In fact, I bought a British double for just that reason. Although like you mentioned, it’s definitely stocked for shooting game overhead. But like you, I’ve used enough shotguns that if I throw it up a few times, it’s fine for going away birds, if not ideal 👍🏼

I am 67 years old. I grew up in the American Pacific Northwest. I hunted for food weekly from 12 to 23 years old. I still enjoy hunting.

I’m from the U.S. my Shotguns of choice are Pump Action Shotguns and I own 2 Shotguns the M1897 Riot Shotgun and the Remington M870 both in 12g.

Quality workmanship from both countries,no doubt. I give the English guns a higher score in terms of style and handling but still prefer the American guns .... I suppose affordability, availability,and loyalty are some top reasons

As an American, I’ve been around so many firearms, from pistols, rifles and shotguns all from the best to the worst. I’ve collected Mil surplus I’ve assembled my own AR 15s even refurbished some family hand downs but, to get one’s hands on a Parker or ithica sxs is one rare and also unbelievabley expensive. Nice to see a good old American shotguns from close to one hundred years ago still popping clays or pigeons over in jolly ol’england.

Great video!! Could you show us the differences for the internals?

Interesting comment about American Damascus. I don't think that Damascus barrel blanks were ever made in the USA, but perhaps you know otherwise. They were usually Belgian. The flower pattern you see may be the "stars" pattern. I have forgotten which Belgian company made them but they were intended for the US market. I hope your barrels were reproofed in Britain. The increased recoil you felt might have reflected short chambers. Ithaca would provide guns with a variety of chamber lengths to suit the customer for higher grade guns, but 70 mm didn't become standard for 12 bores until late (1930's?). I'm sure you know the chamber pressure differences when 70 mm shells are used in 65 mm chambers. 2 5/8" chambers were very common in 12 ga. American guns in the Damascus period.

I know nothing about guns but that antique shotty made in London for a couple hundred quid sounds like an incredible deal. I thought guns like that were thousands.

Surely you could have just checked the value of the gun in America? And bought the cheapest one in regards to their rate? As you said yourself, you’re buying a higher quality American one because the rates aren’t high in the UK

“ Market Hunters Gun “ I see that we have had a slight influence on you since you’ve been coming over here. We look forward to having you back !

this bloke shooting a gun that is older than the country comparrison and deminishing us folk lore! i love it!!!

The cheapest American double is (was) the Stevens 311.

Ithica, Baker, L.C. Smith, Stevens, etc. How about a higher-grade A.H. Fox (XE grade), something like a Purdey or H&H? I wonder how they perform against each other.

Great video. I wonder if the comparison would have more value if the guns were both new.

the recoil is definitely more on the usa one because the barrel is less heavier meaning its able to go up higher than the british one since the british one has a heavier barrel

How hard it is to get in to hunting in UK if you dont own land or if you are just a normal bloke?

The straight "english" stock? My pick for an upland game double. For an auto loader or a pump gun a pistol-type grip works best, esp when single slugs are used on large game.

If you wanted to examine a more modern era but inexpensive, utilitarian American double that were still widely used consider the Stevens 311 or Savage Fox Model B. Heavy, a bit crude, but they sold a lot of them as they got the job done.

So im an American, i don't know what a pound is worth and I had no idea britsh people have guns. However with the fact I haven't watched far into this video im interested in what british gun culture is like if it exists.

that kick your feeling is freedom... lol

That's insane to me that y'all can get such a nice double barrel for such a steal there in the UK. That's an Antique over here! My dad has a Sears(?) 16 gauge side by side that's very old and a blast to shoot. I agree actually like the English checkering a lot more

I like the Black Hawk Down reference, " This is my safety..."

imo, hard comparison because sxs guns in US are an extremely niche market now. outside of old hand me downs, sport clubs, and upperclass hunters, SxS aren't even common anymore. they are second to pumps. loved the comments on the difference in culture and use

American here...not an expert,but from what i gather, most British guns go thru a proof house. I'm pretty sure the Ithaca has been proofed. Did you use a lower pressure shell/ load in the Ithaca? The general rule in the states is that Damascus barrels are related to wall hanging status. Before everyone jumps on me, I am aware that some individuals load black powder shells,and I've seen a couple articles about low pressure smokeless shotshell reloads. I do have personal knowledge of a couple individuals firing 2 3/4(70mm) baby mags in their damascus doubles, but that was because of necessity. The only way to use a damascus barreled gun on a U.S. range is to install sub-gage tubes. The question is then, when in the U.K. , when you go to a shop to buy shells, you look for the correct gage, chamber length, shot size and payload. Is there the added variable of L.U.P. , CUP, PSI, Tons or Bar?

I completely found this channel by accident I didn't think y'all had this

One thing I will say, in my experience, when it comes to double barrel shotguns, there are very few American options for a budget price. The vast majority of inexpensive double barrel shotguns come from Brazil or Turkey. Once you get over the $1,000 price point, American brands start getting more and more common, but under that price point, American double barrels are like hen's teeth. That said, we do have some really good, really affordable pump shotguns. The Mossberg Mavericks are available brand new for often less than $250, and they're excellent guns.

I shot alot of clays whislt the wife got her degree at Cambridge. I do have to say the shells used never bruised my shoulder in the same way that they do at home in the U.S.. I understand why you might want a slightly less powerfull shell what with less area to shoot and not wanting to sling lead farther. Still, the difference was wildly different.

I can't find a cheap double barrel shotgun in the US at all. I have a double barrel musket that's probably 150 years old. It's a muzzle loading shotgun, but I can't find a break top modern shotgun like that for under $500.

I've noticed many people commenting that americans would never use "such a nice gun" I disagree! I am American, we are not all the same.. I would gladly use either without putting a ton of investment into it. I believe guns, and cars for that matter; are MEANT to be shot, and MEANT to be driven. I would give these guns the life they have become accustomed to over their history and not lock it away. You will find many American citizens who view the C&R market similarly. If the guns, or the cars died in my ownership; they will die as they lived, doing what they 'Love'.. The gun working and representing what it does is far more than enough for me; and growing up a poor man I have no interest in buying them up, wiping them with diapers, then locking them away; and especially not obtaining them fixing them then attempting to scalp some poor guy over the price.. Hot wheels and trading cards return on investment far quicker than that; and those are what I would lock up.

Olive Mill I am a little biased towards the fencing I do like it to be more pronounced and I can't explain it other than Aesthetics

Now do cheapest Turkish side by side if you please.

You have made me want to take my old Ithaca out , an old “ field gun “ I bought it for near nothing 130.00 US because some “ yahoo” had the receiver chrome plated and one of the barrels is flawed But it seems to shoot well 20 Ga and super light weight . If I can get the chrome plating taken off the receiver I’d be proud to carry it clay shooting anywhere, and certainly bird hunting , even with the gaudy chrome .

Subbed. I'm happy learning from you.

Not sure if it's the same in America, but in Canada - imported classic German shotguns are INSANELY undervalued. You can pick up a beautiful Merkel, Simson-Suhl, or JP Sauer for often less than $400 CAD (~$300 US or ~£235). Or a gorgeous, scoped drilling by the same for around the $1500 mark (~$1100 USD or ~£875). And that's this year - a couple years ago, you could find them (at least the side-by-sides) for half that price.

Jealous of you being able to get a cheap side by side, here in America the cheapest shotgun I could get that wasn't a single shot was a Turkish pump action that kicks like a mule. Still, a good deal for the $189 it was listed at

JC, which make is the coat you are wearing? Thanks.

Seems like a place to possibly ask if anyone knows anything about Mills Gun Co. I have an old hammer side by side and I’m unable to find anything about it.

As I say I think a British / American collaboration would turn out to be a beautiful firearm in the context we are talking about

Yes you are correct in your assessment yet I do want to add that the British firearm wasn't that bad and performed really well. I'm a man from the states and can say that there was very little difference between the weapons with the exception that the American weapon handled the gas pressure better which resulted in a greater kick.

Shot the Beneli super black eagle, it’s technically an Italian gun but they are very popular in America

Its funny how guns in their homeland are always more expensive. Its the same way in America, any "classic" gun companies such as Ithaca,Lafever,Winchester,Remington, or Henry command a way higher price in comparison to similar guns.Either its the brand or the "Americana" associated with it. I wonder if its like that everywhere?

It's weird that is the cheapest American shotgun considering as far as i know Ithicas are high end shotguns in the American market. Cheaper stuff would be like mossbergs, stoegers, or Harrison & Richardson/ new England arms

The Ithaca absolutely did not fit you at all. Designed for “Hobbits” cracks me up. Little work using your exceptional skills…it world likely make a great back scratcher for someone of your stature. 🤷‍♂️

Thing is, would you want to load that"wildfowler looking" gun with wildfowl cartridges ?

British Garand Thumb doesn't exist, British Garand Thumb can't hurt you

still less hassle to own and use both in America but im happy to seeing u have fun with em

In America a double barrel that barrelly opens and shoots still would probably go for 500 to 700 us dollars

The cheapest US gun is $85 or... as much as some steel plumbing pipe costs from the hardware store to make a slam-fire shotgun.

Thicker wool , hunting clothing would extend the reach when shoulderd , especially when these guns were a modern disign .