Chief:
That advert has me thinking that in order to save money they just kept re-running the same one year after year. By 1933, the 520A had arrived and IMHO, the suicide safety was no-more. Also, almost every 20-bore variant I see is a Sear's Ranger. Go figure? Moreover, $20 bought a lot more in 1933 than it will now (that's what printing money out of thin air will get you). But you're right, those were very tough times. As to all the full-choke guns I see from that period, I suspect that shotguns were used much more like rifles to kill immobile game animals because every shot had to count (wingshooting would've seemed frivolous to them). Also, shells from that period used felt and paper, so patterns were hard to control any other way.
Got my 16 today. So much for svelt, this unit goes well over 7-lbs (almost 7lbs3 by my kitchen scale, I'd hate to see what a 30-inch 12-bore weighs-in at!). The suicide safety is an odd-bird too. I'm hearing the early Auto-5s used it, and I can see why they moved-on from it fairly quickly. It's not very positive (this gun won't be used as a loner). Other than that, I'm fairly pleased with it. Very Bonnie & Clyde looking, which to my eye is somehow pleasing. It's no Model 12 clone, and it doesn't look like anything else I've ever owned, but the metal forging and machining is first rate, and the take-down is way cool. I'm going to open the choke and try to lighten the stock up just a bit, but.....it is what it is. A wonderful conversation piece in any circle of gun nuts, for sure. I may try it on doves in a few weeks here. Recoil certainly won't be an issue.
Last edited by Lloyd3; 07/23/13 09:59 PM.
