Does anyone know much about SKB shotguns?

[Pine Marten]

Hello everyone.

A friend of mine started shooting clays with me about a year ago and has now applied for his SGC, so yesterday we went to an auction preview to see what bargains may be had at the budget end of the shotgun scale. Actually I wanted him to have a chance to handle lots of different shotguns to see what he liked and what fitted him, but we happened to stumble across what I believe to be an SKB Model 600 or 800 Trap, according to the 1979 catalogue. The reserve price is ridiculous, it fitted him like a glove, and I could find nothing wrong with the mechanics at all. It's clearly been well looked after and its' battered look it just down to a lot of handling. But the action with the cross-bolt at the top is tight, we tried it with snap caps and everything is sound, the barrels on the inside are like mirrors. But the stock needs some oiling, the finish is all worn off, it needs a good strip and clean, and ideally the barrels need reblacking. But for all that, it struck me as a very well made gun indeed, and I think that even with the fact that he will end up spending quite a bit more on a bit of gunsmithing than on the gun itself, he will end up with a very handsome gun indeed.

So anyway, does anyone know anything interesting about SKB shotguns? I don't think they're on the market anymore. It's made in Japan but seems to be for a US importer. The action design is reminiscent of a Merkel O/U.

Thanks!

 

[enfieldspares]

Yes. I had a composed pair of SKB boxlock ejector side-by-side 12 bore single trigger guns once. Bores were, I think, chromed like on Baikal guns. That may cause matters arising if you need to hone the chokes open.

They were a good quality Japanese maker and BSA in fact imported SKB s/b/s guns made up as BSA guns. But the spares may be an issue. The brand has been re-born but I don't know if current spares will interchange. And, mostly, as you know to bespoke make an internal part or firing pin will cost as much as if it were being bespoke made for an SKB o/u as for a Woodward o/u.

Best is try twenty-five, or better fifty cartridges through it, on single clays and double clays to see if there are issues with ejection, doubling, fails to fire and the rest. Remember auction is 'sold as seen with ALL faults'.

 

[foxandhound]

Hi Pine Martin
Had an SKB in the seventies/eighties and shot thousands of clays and pigeon with it winning several competitions. I loved it, it was over-engineered and never missed a beat. I used mainly Gamebore clear pigeon for live quarry and Meonchi 8's for the clays and wouldn't mind owning one again if there was room between the Shadow Indys, Winchesters, Rotweil, Remington and Miroku's. Hope you enjoy using your SKB should you decide to buy it.
Regards
foxandhound.

 

[Southern]

SKB makes a wide variety of SxS and OU shotguns, on various proven actions. Some are very much like Merkels.
Every one I have ever handled or shot was very solid and worked flawlessly.
If it fits you, and shoots for you, I find them to be a bargain, especially used.

 

[Pine Marten]

Thanks, that's confirmed my view. Glad I put a bid in for him then! Hopefully no-one else will want it that day...

 

[alberta boy]

I had one very similar to enfieldspares . It was a very well made and reliable shotgun . I sold it to a hunting buddy about 15 years ago and , after a lot of use , it's still going strong . Nice guns .

AB

 

[kenbro]

I too bought the sxs boxlock single trigger gun in the mid 70s.
Fit was perfect for me (In those days i used to bend myself to fit any gun i wanted) and it was my pigeon gun for a few years. Then i did what i always do...sold it to a friend and bought a Winchester 23. I liked that as well, (It's that single trigger thing) but regretted selling the BSA/SKB.
Ken.

 

[SDC7x57]

SKB were originally set up in 1855 by Shigyo Sakaba (SaKaBa) in Tokyo. In about 1966 they started exporting to the USA, and then to Europe. They made a range of guns which were usually very well made and extremely reliable. SKB trap guns were quite a favourite in the 80s. I certainly shot a lot of clays with mine and it never missed a beat. I think it was 2010 when the plant finally closed in Japan. The name and all the blueprints were bought by an American concern and as far as I know the guns are now produced in Turkey.

 

[Pine Marten]

Won it....

 

[alberta boy]

Won it....

Cool , any pics ?

 

[enfieldspares]

In the Sealed Bid or bought out of the Unsold Lots that's currently no on? I'm pleased to see that my Nagant and my Tokarev both sold.

 

[Pine Marten]

Cool , any pics ?

This one here:

Holt's Auctioneers

 

[alberta boy]

Nice , and your right , it does have Merkel look to it .

AB

 

[sikadog]

Henry Monks in Chester purchased all the spares when SKB closed down in the UK they still have a large ammount or did a year ago.