First, I enjoy your aritcles. You mentioned that there's a recent trend towards Woodwards, and later on that your cousins in the states have been buying up hammer guns. I guess I killed two birds with one purchase, but can you really blame us for wanting them?

Woodward hammer gun:
[img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RADhAvISJ...592199937160955[/img]

I can't blame you at all - I just can't afford them anymore

Dig wrote a very astute article for the UK called "Uncle Sam Has Grandad's Purdey," or something very like that. Well, make that Woodward, too. The good news is that most of these guns are in safe hands and being well fed.

JM - a sibling.

Beautiful gun Rocketman! I would prefer that mine had the silver patina like yours. Mine was case colored when I bought it.

And I can vouch for the fact that Rocketman's hammer Woodward has most of the misses shot out of it. And the hammerless one ain't bad either. I had a marvelous outing with Don and some friends in August, an outing in which I was offered the use of two beautiful Woodwards from our good friend the Rocketman. I'm a lucky man to have friends such as these.

JM,

Put it to use. It will look like RM's in no time at all.

Why spend hard -earned cash on a new gun when you can still get these?

You both have excellent taste - but you knew that already!

Dig is correct, as usual! On both counts.

But then, the issue is financing Woodward/Purdey/Boss/H&H/etc. taste on a Bonehill budget.

JM - I note that your gun has clips. Is it, by chance, noticably heavier than 6 1/2#? Mine has only wisp of CC left here and there, but is sound, especially after a visit to Purdey's in 1985(me for sure and it most likely, paid our first visits to Purdey's the very same week in '85; I've been back many times and it hasn't).

Tom is being modest. There was an embarrasing period wherein it looked as though I'd be obligated as a gentleman to make him a price on the gun since he obviously shot it better than I could ever hope to. Fortunately, he came back toward earth and I got to keep my gun.

Marksman, I intend to put it to use, that's what they are for. If there is one thing I can't stand is to see is a gun just sit there in a safe and never see the light of day. I could never own a collectable one of a kind unfired gun because I would have to shoot it.

Dig, I like both new and old guns. I like the new ones because I can get a custom fit since I'm a left handed shooter and need a long LOP. One major reason that I bought this gun is that the stock dimensions are close to what I need to shoot well. When you're a lefty and you like English/Italian guns, you learn to compensate for this when buying a second hand gun! I like the old guns for their historical worth, style, and originality.

Rocketman, I don't recall what the gun weighs. I'm not weight sensitive (yet!). Probably the heaviest SxS gun I have is my Westley Richards A&D boxlock, but like the Woodward I don't know what it weighs. The WR just seems to be heavier to me.

I also was at that friendly shoot and kept pushing Tom to make an offer to Rocketman for the Woodward.

Like money, guns go where they may.
Hard times on the moors ahead - look for more coming over.
Slim pickens most likely tho.
News flash, go Cards 2-0

Gentlemen,

I enjoy these photos almost as much as I enjoyed the American Rifleman covers of vintage guns that I cut out and posted on my closet doors as a youth. These guns are truly a testament to artistry and craftsmanship.

Lowell, I was fortunate enough to be invited by an old hunting partner to a game at the new stadium last month...Pujols won the game in the 9th...and we had seats just behind and to the left of home plate! One of the best games I've seen played, ever. Go Cards!

He's a player, alright, and we have to root for the red staters.
Lets not have Hillary throw out the first pitch.
GO REDBIRDS