S&W Elite Gold

[M2MikeGolf]

I've recently gotten fascinated with these shotguns. I found some in various places, CDNN, but they only have POW 26"ers left for $1299 it appears. However, I saw that Cabela's has a few, and then discovered there is a shotgun nearly identical called a Dickinson Arms. It's a really strange story, very convoluted. Over on another forum, there are a couple of individuals that seem to know a lot about them and here's a link that's a little old, but is very informative. I've asked Lee (handejector) the administrator for permission to link this forum thread:
Shotgunworld.com • View topic - Dickinson Arms/ Elite Gold, UTAS, Commando Arms AKUS 12 ga
There's a rather long ongoing conversation about the Elite Gold vs. this "Dickinson Arms" model, which appears to be a name that the importer made up. Apparently, they are no longer being imported, and Cabela's bought up much of what was left. They also include 12 Gauges. Thought everyone might be interested. There's one individual (2fewdaysafield) that seems to know a lot, and several of them own both Elite Golds and these others. There is some hope that they will be re-imported by someone; would be nice if S&W would pick them back up.

 

[oneounceload]

Dickinson Arms IS the same guns, just badged by some importer who may be trying to act upon the Dickson and Son name

2fewdaysafield and others on SGW acted upon my recommendation and others to get one. Shot mine today - it does really well with handloaded 3/4oz reloads

 

[M2MikeGolf]

Hey oneounceload, I had seen your comments, didn't mean to slight you and didn't realize you were on the S&W forum, but am glad to see you here.

I'm debating on buying one or the other. It's a complicated issue for me; the "Dickinson" has DTs and an English untouched stock and 26" barrels, but the S&W has an altered aftermarket buttpad and a POW stock with 28" barrels. I would prefer a S&W just for the warranty possibility, but not sure S&W really honors that. I do have a chance at an overpriced S&W with 28" barrels, untouched english stock, but it's a good $500 more than the modified one, however it's a gunshop I don't mind paying a little more for. On the other hand, just up the road I could pick up the earlier mentioned S&W or DA for $1199(S&W) and $1399(DA). What do you think?

I really want a nice 20 ga. double, had one thirty years ago and sold it: it was an SKB with 26" tubes same choke config as the DA/S&W. These turkish made ones look like a lot more than what you pay for them, and I really like that, to include their more tradtional looks. I just wish the single triggers came with selectors like my SKB did, then the trigger issue would answer my question; I never liked double triggers. I have a Drilling I use a lot, and switching to a shotgun with double triggers could cause some confusion to my limited brain (double triggers on Drillings are a different setup as you may know).

Would be interested to hear more of your experience with either and recommendation if any. I can only really justify buying one, but don't want them to get away as after reading you guys conversation on SGW, I suspect that someone will pick them up again and then jack the prices up. I've got an unusual situation; I live in Germany, but will be in the US (Texas) for Christmas and intend on picking one of them up while there; I found the two mentioned online at a Texas Cabela's and the expensive on in a shop in San Antonio. Ordering online is not going to be an option for me, sadly. Getting one here to Germany would be a huge and cost prohibitive problem. I can't determine if they are sold here, but if they are they would be expensive as everything is expensive here, except apparently S&W revolvers (!).

If you can, please post a pic of your S&W and/or DA.
Thanks!!!

 

[oneounceload]

I bought mine after Bruce Buck's review and his purchase. He brought it out to the gun club and "persuaded" 9 of us to also get them. Some of us went traditional with DT, English, 28', and splinter, others went with POW, ST, BT.

As for the warranty, keep your receipt - if they cannot fix the gun, they will refund your money with your receipt

Most of us have a lot of rounds through them without issues looking to use mine for decades to come

 

[Linear Thinker]

I decided to buy one, after a ~3-year wait-and-see. It arrived a couple of days ago - the 26" POW model.

1st impressions:
1. The fit-and-finish are fantastic for the price range. It will not put Abbiatico out of business, but is very nicely put together.
2. The wood grade was nowhere near as nice as on the samples I saw at the SHOT show introduction a couple of years ago. Still, there was some figure, I would say - A grade.
3. The checkered wood buttstock means me having to carry it in a slip when shooting a course, or hunting. No big deal.

I will pattern it, then take it to a SC match.
More later.
LT

 

[dls56]

I think some of the Turk guns are well built but just won't hold a good resale price point. I handled the S&W o/u and it was very nice but the seller just had it priced a little high or I would have picked it up. If there had been a barrel selector I probably would have paid his asking price as it came to point perfectly for me. Need that selector for the occasional long shot first set-up.

 

[Andy Griffith]

I've got one, and it's nice.

I've shot maybe 2K rounds through it, and it got to where it would shoot both barrels at once and so I sent it back to the factory for service. It spend a little over a month up there and it's now fine- I shot 10 rounds from it to see if it functioned fine, but have shot it no more, as I'm a bit scared to.

 

[redbone]

I decided to buy one, after a ~3-year wait-and-see. It arrived a couple of days ago - the 26" POW model.

1st impressions:
1. The fit-and-finish are fantastic for the price range. It will not put Abbiatico out of business, but is very nicely put together.
2. The wood grade was nowhere near as nice as on the samples I saw at the SHOT show introduction a couple of years ago. Still, there was some figure, I would say - A grade.
3. The checkered wood buttstock means me having to carry it in a slip when shooting a course, or hunting. No big deal.

I will pattern it, then take it to a SC match.
More later.
LT

Linear, what do you mean when you say carry it in a slip?

 

[brayhaven]

Parts for elite gold?

Anyone know if parts are available? Have one here (20 ga) with a broken mainspring. hate to take all the trouble to make one, if theres a replacement available.
Thanks, Greg