Jay,
I believe that you misinterpret my use of "kid" gun to be derogatory. I like the idea of an 870- 28 gauge because I can put a load in that will not hammer my 11 year old daughter, patterns far better than .410, is light enough for her to carry. Yet I don't have the same concerns as having a young person carrying a costly double gun. And I can use it in poor weather. An 870 Wingmaster was my very first shotgun at 12 years old, it was 12 gauge. I am 50. I still own the gun. I load 28 gauge and shoot that gauge often.
Do you(or any others) have any idea of the value of the gun that I described? Tom28ga- Thanks for your input!
My apologies if my post sounded as if it had an edge. I guess my point was that a fine old 28 ga 870 is a sweet little gun, regardless of age. I was looking for an old 1100 in 28 a few years ago for my daughter. Of course I'd be happy to use it if she did not like it. (I have seen old 28 ga 1100 skeet guns go for over $1000).
My first shotgun, which I will never part with, was a 20 ga Wingmaster, given to me by my father for Christmas in 1973. The action is slick as glass and the blue is thinning on the bottom, which bears testament to the years I loved and carried that gun. A couple of years later I bought a 12 ga Wingmaster for deer. That too is a nice old gun. The few old 28 ga Wingmasters I have seen for sale have tempted me every time.
I think Dave is about right, althouth they can be hard to find. I also think I'd pay $500 for a 28 ga 870 skeet gun in a heart beat if I ever found one. That being said, last summer Ivory Beads had a very nice 870 in 28 (mid-70's vintage) for $800 and I don't think it lasted very long.
JDG