The all-around firearm that functions as both a rifle and shotgun has long intrigued sports and the makers who build guns for them. Take, for example, Charles Lancaster’s Colindian model, Thomas Bland’s Cape Gun, Cogswell & Harrison’s Cosmos and Holland & Holland’s Paradox. Now London maker Smith & Torok has built a brace of 10-bores with both shotgun and rifle barrels called Dual Guns.
Alex Torok served three decades with James Purdey & Sons before becoming a gunmaker to the trade. Then in 2006, with Mike Smith, he formed Smith & Torok. Smith died in 2015, and since then Torok has continued to build best guns. As one might expect from a Purdey alumnus, the new Dual Guns are made on Beesley actions.
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Each gun has three pairs of barrels: 29½", 25" and 20". The 25" rifled barrels (which can deliver both bullets and shot) incorporate Smith & Torok’s unique design of hiding the express sites in a concave game-rib system rather than using the quarter rib familiar with double rifles. The barrels, which are rifled for the final 2" (similar to an H&H Paradox and Westley Richards Explora), feature three-leaf sights and are regulated to pattern within a 6" circle at 100 yards.
The deep game scene carving is by Creative Arts, while the stocks are exhibition-grade burr walnut. Smith & Torok has developed a lucrative sideline in handcrafted gun cases, and the two-tiered case for this pair is made of bird’s-eye maple with snakewood corners. The outer is covered in oak-bark leather, and the interior is green calfskin.
This unique pair of Dual Guns came in at £250,000 ($293,000).
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