Any Appetite for a New <$10K Double?

[Certus]

If you’re thinking economy in the build, wouldn’t a .458 WinMag make sense as an accompaniment to the .375H&H?
Same formula as the Whitworth bolt guns and they were quite successful by most accounts.

Now that i like the idea of! Doesn’t compete with the existing lineup and offers a big bore option (which most who search for doubles are interested in).

 

[ActionBob]

Where are the "hidden costs" in manufacturing Double Rifles, can anyone bullet point/ layer it?

I don't know how many costs are hidden. I think most are pretty obvious. I do find it interesting that a double rifle can be produced economically and still function reliably. Especially after touring the Holland and Holland factory i suspect Chapuis rifles are made with considerably more automated processes

Now I'm interested in seeing real answers to your question. If there are any.

 

[RLD]

I am your target customer. Do it!

 

[Quest#1]

So laser engraving and better wood is 6-10k more? I clearly understand its more just don’t see how that much more. I mean plywood to grade 6+ definitely has some cost. Or will this gun be cheapened up in important durability ways? Seems like it was a demand price adjustment not necessarily an all cost to build adjustment when prices were changed.

Not knocking it and I would appreciate a plain Jane To bang around and not feel so bad about it…

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

An excellent idea Tom. Although I like the 375 Flanged, I would stick to the 375 H&H because it is the threshold legal DG Limit.

Please insist that the Chauis agents here in South Africa carry this model, it is sorely needed.
Regards,
Kevin

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

My reservation about the 375 flanged is the lack of factory ammo availability for those of us who don’t reload

 

[wvfred]

I just looked at a new Chapuis advertised this morning for $10,400 in 375 H&H in the Iphisi grade so how much under 10k would these be?

 

[Kharn]

I don't know how many costs are hidden. I think most are pretty obvious. I do find it interesting that a double rifle can be produced economically and still function reliably. Especially after touring the Holland and Holland factory i suspect Chapuis rifles are made with considerably more automated processes

Now I'm interested in seeing real answers to your question. If there are any.

I just find gun-smithing super interesting because I live in the world of CNC machining, the only thing that has ever puzzled me about the whole gun-smithing is the regulating of barrels. I've read about how a double shotgun maker (longthorneguns) create their double barrels out of a single piece of material (no soldering).

 

[Hunt anything]

Back when I was searching for a DG rifle I definitely would have been interested in an affordable quality double. It would have had to be in at least 450/400 though. But sadly my hunting career may be mostly behind me and can no longer justify even that expense. The capability of handling an RMR is great, especially for us that no longer see as well as we used to.
Back in 2012 I bought an off the rack .375 Ruger Alaskan and a few years later a simi custom.416 Rigby.

 

[AZDAVE]

@Tom Leoni I think you have hit on a solid idea. If you can get a intro double in the same price range as the sabatti's or Rizzini. You will have a winner. The 375 will appeal to the African hunting crowd. and the 45/70 to the US hunters. I would regulate it with the Hornaday leveroution ammo (Max pressures in the 35-40K range) and not look back. I have looked at all the sun 10 K doubles in SxS and O/U configurations. Understand not getting into the other lines of Chapuis. UGEX-RGEX, IPISI etc

Having a intro line with as solid boxlock and good regulation would be a winner.

I also like the 303 idea.

 

[sgt_zim]

HUGE fan of 45-70 here.

But even 5K USD is a big ask for most folks who are fans of that cartridge.

 

[Kharn]

This is an article from Westley Richards dating back to 2014

The use of CNC machines and batch production in Gun Making. / The Explora - Premier Online Field Sports & Gun Journal

A few comments and emails I have received in response to the post on single shot rifles, showed interest in the rifle, but raised the ques

www.westleyrichards.com

 

[Russ16]

I just find gun-smithing super interesting because I live in the world of CNC machining, the only thing that has ever puzzled me about the whole gun-smithing is the regulating of barrels. I've read about how a double shotgun maker (longthorneguns) create their double barrels out of a single piece of material (no soldering).

This has always interested me as well. What I’ve never understood is why shotgun makers say it is harder to regulate SxS barrels than O/U barrels. For one the challenge is vertical the other horizontal but they still need to shoot to the same point.

 

[MacJenkins]

I would want somethins small, 6.5x65R, 7X57R. I alreay have guns in all the calibers from 400/360 Purdey up through 577.

I've only had one Chapuis and it was in 9.3x74R, think the model was a Rex, ugrex or something like that. It was ok. They were sub 5K back then, with swing scope mounts if I remember right.

Does chapuis make guns to the user demensions?

 

[MacJenkins]

This has always interested me as well. What I’ve never understood is why shotgun makers say it is harder to regulate SxS barrels than O/U barrels. For one the challenge is vertical the other horizontal but they still need to shoot to the same point.

SXS gun barrels want to not only move up under recoil but also move diagonally and away from the other barrel when fired. Heance why speed and barrel dwell time are important in SxS double rifles to correct for crossing or not shooting together.

It has been my exierence the larger the bore the easier the load duplicaion for regulation goes. The hardest rifle I had to duplicate was a 375 flanged. Bet I shot about 300 rounds to find the right load. Landed on RL17 which was a somewhat new powder at the time.

 

[BnC 04]

If a 375 Flanged makes it into your plans please let me know as it would make a great Christmas gift for my better half.

 

[Tom Leoni]

Thank you again for all the great suggestions. Two quick things I forgot to mention:

1 - So far, we cannot do .500 NE. The action is not big enough.

2 - We offered .375 Flanged the first year, but it simply didn't sell. The extraction/ejection system for the standard belted .375 is reliable and has not given us any trouble at all. Let's not forget that it's a proven technology that Westley Richards had perfected over a century ago with their .318 (rimless) and .325 (rebated).

However, it is still available on a special-order-only basis, so if you want a Chapuis double in .375 Flanged caliber, just let me know. Price will be roughly the same as the standard .375 version.

 

[rookhawk]

All,

As some of you know, I manage a brand of double rifles (Chapuis). I am kicking around some ideas for 2026 new product introductions. One of them is to offer a basic model with no engraving, 2-star wood and no special finish, that would retail for less than $10,000 in 2026.

The calibers I'm thinking about are .375 H&H and .45-70. Configuration would be the same as my African doubles (large action, 26" barrels, express sights, double triggers, ejectors, manual safety).

Why the .45-70? Because with it, hunters could also use it here in the US, especially in states that allow straight-wall cartridges for big game. Why no .450-400 and .470? Because doing so would necessarily cannibalize from my other two lines, the Iphisi and the Elan Classic & Artisan, which are selling well.

Also, I'm thinking of including mounts for RMR red dots on all my African-sized doubles, free of charge.

I'd like to hear your thoughts about this, as well as any suggestions you may have (realistic!) for anything else.

Thank you all in advance, as always.

@Tom Leoni I think the pricepoint concept is good but the caliber choices are not.

For a bare-bones rifle, I'm expecting ejectors, a good wood finish, a rounded action boxlock, good safety and properly tuned triggers.

For calibers, I cannot see anyone wanting a 45-70 or 375HH barebones anything for ten grand. I think you'd gain more traction if it was offered in calibers like 375 Flanged, 7x65r, 303 Brit, and perhaps custom chamberings for an upcharge that would include 333 Jeffery and 350 Rigby #2.

Hopefully the gun can be made on a frame smaller than a 20 bore.

You'll have to offer something that cannot be found elsewhere at a similar pricepoint. There are infinite choices for 375HH and 45-70 doubles and as you know there are over-the-top embellished near-best O/U German and Ferlach 375HH doubles that can be had for far less than ten thousand dollars. Same for 9.3x74R. (used)

You'll need to create a product that has scarcity. The calibers I rattled off do not have other options available for $10k in a side by side ejector double.

 

[rookhawk]

It might be worth mentioning a big turn-off for me with luxury brands. If Porsche decided to create an economy car it would ruin their brand. If they decided to make a sub compact diesel pickup truck with a 40mph top speed it would ruin their brand. Pretty self explanatory.

Gun makers that have a persona that they are selling luxury goods sully their brands by doing things that are "improper". I view the rimless dangerous game calibers to be an example of this. Rizzini made a lot of 416 rigby doubles and I think it really pulled them down. Beretta laughably made $90,000 458 Winmags and I've seen the same $90k gun in 3-5 auctions where it cannot get a $14,000 bid. Near their final demise, Remington forced Dakota to make AR-15s and chassis rifles which really sullied their bespoke safari rifle reputation.

Be careful. If Chapuis makes a non-credible caliber of double rifle at an economy pricepoint it would certainly reduce the chances of many buyers wanting to spend $20k-$50k on a high grade Chapuis. Making silly, improper caliber double rifles will pull down the credibility of the brand at large. There are dozens of underserved small and medium bore rimmed calibers that could be offered rather than pedestrian bolt rifle rimless calibers that aren't proper in a double rifle.

 

[Rifleman97]

45/70 is not legal in several straight walled states because the case is too long, so that might be a pretty niche market

I’d definitely be interested in an affordable no frills double in 375 h&h