When people hear the phrase American Best, it’s natural to think of a comparison— specifically to the traditional best guns of the London trade.

And in some ways, that comparison makes sense. The British defined the term. They built the guns that set the standard, and their influence still shapes how we think about fine sporting arms today.

But the more time you spend studying American doubles, the more you realize that comparison only goes so far.

American gunmakers weren’t working in the same world. They built for different customers, different markets, and different expectations. Their guns came from factories, not small London shops. They were sold from catalogs, not fitting rooms. And they were designed to be used hard in the field—not just admired for their craftsmanship.

And yet, when those same makers set out to build their very best—when they pushed their designs, their materials, and their workmanship to the highest level—they produced shotguns that stand with anything made in their time.

Not copies of London best guns or substitutes for them, but distinctly American answers to the same challenge.

In this episode, we explore what American Best really means through the lens of five legendary makers: L.C. Smith, Parker Brothers, A.H. Fox, Ithaca, and Lefever—and the different paths each one took to define excellence in their own way.

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In this episode of A Break in the Action, I sit down with Simon Reinhold of Holt’s Auctioneers for a deep dive into the history of the British gun trade and the remarkable craftsmen whose names have faded from common conversation. While makers like Purdey, Holland & Holland, and Boss are widely recognized today, the development of the modern sporting shotgun was shaped by dozens of inventors, provincial makers, and trade specialists whose work laid the foundation for everything that followed. Together, Simon and I discuss the extraordinary burst of innovation that took place in the second half of the nineteenth century.

Along the way, the conversation turns to the enduring appeal of these lesser-known guns, how to recognize quality craftsmanship even when the name on the rib isn’t familiar, and why many of these makers deserve a second look from modern shooters and collectors. This episode is both a historical overview and a reminder that the story of fine gunmaking is far bigger than the handful of famous names most of us know.

In this episode:

Holt's Auctioneers

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The Beretta Galleries

House of Bruar

B&P Shotshells

Delaney & Sons

Negrini Cases

Guyette and Deeter

Griffin and Howe

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In this episode, I sit down with Bradley Davis of The London Gun Company to explore the legacy and revival of Frederick Beesley—one of the most influential yet often overlooked figures in British gunmaking. From Beesley’s groundbreaking self-opening action to the careful resurrection of his name in a new line of bespoke shotguns, this conversation examines heritage, craftsmanship, and what it means to carry a historic London gunmaking tradition forward today.

In this episode:

Frederick Beesley

Our Sponsors:

The Beretta Galleries

B&P Shotshells

Delaney & Sons

Negrini Cases

Guyette and Deeter

Griffin and Howe

Castellani USA

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