Any Appetite for a New <$10K Double?

[Tom Leoni]

All,

As some of you know, I manage a brand of double rifles (Chapuis). I am kicking around some ideas for 2026 new product introductions. One of them is to offer a basic model with no engraving, 2-star wood and no special finish, that would retail for less than $10,000 in 2026.

The calibers I'm thinking about are .375 H&H and .45-70. Configuration would be the same as my African doubles (large action, 26" barrels, express sights, double triggers, ejectors, manual safety).

Why the .45-70? Because with it, hunters could also use it here in the US, especially in states that allow straight-wall cartridges for big game. Why no .450-400 and .470? Because doing so would necessarily cannibalize from my other two lines, the Iphisi and the Elan Classic & Artisan, which are selling well.

Also, I'm thinking of including mounts for RMR red dots on all my African-sized doubles, free of charge.

I'd like to hear your thoughts about this, as well as any suggestions you may have (realistic!) for anything else.

Thank you all in advance, as always.

 

[wesheltonj]

While I would not be a buyer. I do have one suggestion. Make available from the factory for Doctor mounts.

 

[Odinsraven]

develop a 303 British that works - and the world is your oyster , clam ,mussel etc


Stephen

 

[ActionBob]

Tom i like the idea of a lower cost high quality reliable double. Although i personally probably won't buy one at this point, I very well may have a few years ago. Not a fan of the 45-70 and would have asked for a 450-400 but you explained your reasoning and I can understand it.

How about a 375 Flanged? Maybe in the Iphisi?

Including RMR mounts is a great idea that adds value and flexibility to the products with probably minimal cost or effort from you and your company

 

[wvfred]

I would be interested in one in a proper African caliber but I understand your logic.

 

[MRBlack]

Another vote for 375 Flanged

 

[Dublinpiper90]

.375 H&H flanged for sure

 

[AimSmall]

450-400

 

[Betterinthebush]

I love the idea. For better or for worse I’m married to the .375 H&H and 45-70. Albeit for reasons that are born purely out of personal experience. In Alaska every store from Delta Junction to Seward to Fairbanks and in every village burger/barber/shower and hardware store is sure to have those two calibers. Without a doubt.

I tend to take ammo availability into account when buying a new rig.

I would enthusiastically support this move as long as it was built tough. I’d love to have a work double for Alaska, get it wet, and drop it in the pelican for Africa.

 

[Don458]

I like the Flanged 375. - Instead of the 45/70, Why not make different option like the.50 Alaskan. Yeah .50 Alaskan in a double.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

If a sub-$10K double rifle could have user adjustable regulation and...
be chambered for dangerous game cartridges, you'd have cracked the code!

Offering .375 H&H and .375 Flanged should provide some economies of scale to the makers if both configurations could have the same rifling rate of twist.

I do however see comments for 450-400...

Admittedly I have a Blaser S2 in .375 H&H that as I've stated before, "Is as accurate as it is ugly!"

If the new rifles are easily configured for reflex (red dot) sights via removable plates or ribs milled for quick release reflex mounts, that would be a great selling point!

 

[Rafiki]

Several people on this forum know that I shoot a 50-90 Sharps both in the States and Africa; think 500 2 1/2", I load it to be equivalent to kynoch 500 NE. Mine is a Ruger No 1 but I would sure be interested in a double for that cartridge.

My rifle is engraved 500 Sharps 2 1/2". Components handloading are easily available.

 

[ActionBob]

I like the Flanged 375. - Instead of the 45/70, Why not make different option like the.50 Alaskan. Yeah .50 Alaskan in a double.

I'm sure it's because he wants to sell lots of them and wants them to be in calibers that are easily purchased by the average hunter. Could even go as far as to say calibers the average purchaser may have on hand!

As for my suggestion of the 375 Flanged, probably in the Iphisi line

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I too support the idea of a 375 Flange offering. I’m on the look out for a British one

 

[Josh P]

I’m all for making doubles more accessible, but for those two calibers I myself wouldn’t even be interested in the used market variety. Just because it’s got two barrels doesn’t mean it’s a double rifle. Caliber choice has a lot to do with that and neither of those, again just in my estimation, are double rifle calibers. I’m still interested to see how it plays out, and hope the demand from others will make a push for more caliber choices.

 

[trperk1]

I would be interested in one in a proper African caliber but I understand your logic.

Same. I want a double for a 2027 Zim hunt and don't care about the wood and engraving. But I do want a proper African cartridge

 

[ActionBob]

@Tom Leoni do you think a 450-400 would really cut sales in the other lines to the point of less profit?

I would wonder if a low enough cost reliable double in a classic double rifle NE caliber wouldn't open markets that don't currently exist?

I can only see two reasons to buy a Sabatti, one would be because the buyer REALLY wants a double and that is absolutely all he can afford.... you should be able to tap into that market. The other might be that they look good. I suppose a 3rd reason might be that a buyer is boondoggleed into believing a Sabatti is of good quality but that one is self defeating

Sounds like a 450-400 would garner a lot of interest! Again, ask yourself if you might get sales to folks who will not or cannot spend the extra money on a fancier model. I'd argue you could possibly increase overall sales to the point it negates any cannibalism from the more costly lines.

Is it at all probable that you might pull new double rifle buyers in who might then consider something a bit fancier? Did you lose sales of Elan models to an equal number of Iphisi sales gained?

 

[Javaman]

All,

As some of you know, I manage a brand of double rifles (Chapuis). I am kicking around some ideas for 2026 new product introductions. One of them is to offer a basic model with no engraving, 2-star wood and no special finish, that would retail for less than $10,000 in 2026.

The calibers I'm thinking about are .375 H&H and .45-70. Configuration would be the same as my African doubles (large action, 26" barrels, express sights, double triggers, ejectors, manual safety).

Why the .45-70? Because with it, hunters could also use it here in the US, especially in states that allow straight-wall cartridges for big game. Why no .450-400 and .470? Because doing so would necessarily cannibalize from my other two lines, the Iphisi and the Elan Classic & Artisan, which are selling well.

Also, I'm thinking of including mounts for RMR red dots on all my African-sized doubles, free of charge.

I'd like to hear your thoughts about this, as well as any suggestions you may have (realistic!) for anything else.

Thank you all in advance, as always.

Could be of interest. I am of the mind that a safari rifle is a field tool - I like a nice once but not a museum piece so your idea of functional wood vs display wood is appealing (and wood stocks are quieter). 45-70 seems well covered by all sorts of lever rifles so not sure the appeal of a DR in that caliber. 375 H&H for sure, especially since reloading components are readily available. I’d be thinking other buff-level calibers for which reloading components are available - maybe .416 RM would have a market in an affordable DR. Not sure you need to go bigger than that except for dedicated elephant gun which seems like a small market. I’m a 450/400 fan and would love a DR in that caliber but a Ruger No1 can be had for $2500 max these days and brass is unobtanium. Fun project!

 

[Tom Leoni]

Thanks, gentlemen--lots of food for thought. So far, it seems that .375 and .450-400 may be the way to go. Please let me know which red-dot mount to offer. I'm thinking RMR, but if you have any other suggestion (one poster said Docter) I'm here to listen!

 

[Betterinthebush]

Could be of interest. I am of the mind that a safari rifle is a field tool - I like a nice once but not a museum piece so your idea of functional wood vs display wood is appealing (and wood stocks are quieter). 45-70 seems well covered by all sorts of lever rifles so not sure the appeal of a DR in that caliber. 375 H&H for sure, especially since reloading components are readily available. I’d be thinking other buff-level calibers for which reloading components are available - maybe .416 RM would have a market in an affordable DR. Not sure you need to go bigger than that except for dedicated elephant gun which seems like a small market. I’m a 450/400 fan and would love a DR in that caliber but a Ruger No1 can be had for $2500 max these days and brass is unobtanium. Fun project!

I like the idea of.416 RM. there is a lot of that to be found in the villages. As well as .338WM. Got dunked into the water and lost your untaped box of ammo in the Malamute..? No sweat. Call the pilot to pitch out a box onto the beach as he flies by to drop off ‘bou hunters.

Hell, you could call it the “Alaska Double Rifle” you’d sell hundreds on pre-orders