My first double would not be called a typical hardware store gun, but I had a Winchester Model 24 that was left for dead AT a hardware store. Bought it for $80 cash, which was equivalent to many, many meals for a starving college student. Completely devoid of any blue and the wood was so beat up that I never needed checkering to grip it. The Stevens 311 was too expensive at the time - he wanted $125 for it. I had to buy shells so I went for the lower priced model, but that 311 was in good shape.

There is something about the utilitarian double that oozes American heritage. Simple, rugged, and with a purpose. My $0.02.


Work as if you were to live a hundred years. Pray as if you were to die tomorrow. Benjamin Franklin