Just think about it. In an industry which used to be (and still is) exclusively dominated by mostly English and a few Continental European gun makers... Butch was the very first American gun maker to start making double rifles. Today, there's another gent, I think. Named Ralph Badenhorst (hopefully, I spelt it right?). But that's about it. You won't find any other American builders of custom made double rifles.
I don't know how old you are, but I am old enough to still remember the time when Butch first started building double rifles. I had just come back from a safari in Tanzania. It was the talk amongst all of our friends. An American building double rifles. We always knew that American custom rifle makers were talented beyond comparison. But this was mostly for bolt guns and lever guns. For an American to get into the double rifle making business, was truly revolutionary. And he's actually persevered, which makes his accomplishment even more noteworthy. He also builds his own actions. Just compared that, with the short-lived American "John Rigby & Co." company who were building double rifles on Merkel actions.
Yes, I know that some of his rifles have had hiccups in the past. And some people don't like some of Butch's policies. But generally speaking, he builds a solid product. And on top of that, he's a Vietnam war veteran. That increases my respect towards him (being a war veteran myself). I actually met him in 2003 in California. And I immediately took a liking to the man. I would happily order a double rifle from him.
www.africahunting.com
