Today I visited a large gunshow near Franklin, PA. There was the ever present hoards of 1970s pump guns, H&R single shots, Savage Model 99s and tire kickers who enjoy my conversation but never actually buy any of my guns. That's gunshows I guess...
I was able to pick up a box of Nice Shot in 1 1/8th oz #2 for $8, which I felt was a pretty good deal. I only saw one hammer gun from afar, but it turned out to be made(labeled?) by American Gun Company, which I was a bit disappointed by. I could count the numbers of double guns on my fingers and still have a few fingers left. However, on my second trip around the room I noticed a lovely rounded half-grip poking out from the back of one of the racks. I knew right away it was French. I peered at the tag and it was listed as "16 Gauge Guild w/ leg o' mutton case". I asked the gentleman at the table if I could look at it and break it down to see the flats. He was not the seller, but was working the table for him and was a bit hesitant to let me do it. He eventually conceded and I saw that it was most definitely French with the PT proof, 2.5" chambers, the standard circular 'choke rectife', and two palm proof. The bluing was nice, the wood was nice (though cut for a pad), there was a good amount of case colors left on the action and the back of the action was figuratively scalloped. I also noted a mark on the barrel that looked somewhat like "A.M.&Cie" but it was minute and difficult to make out perfectly. Nice gun and light...and VERY refreshing to see in one of our western PA gunshows. At the asking price, I wasn't too interested, but it was a lovely gun regardless.
On the way home I stopped at a LGS and to my surprise they had two drillings on the wall. One was a Royal Gun Company gun (West Virginia?) in 12x12x.30-30. Nice shape, BEAUTIFUL wood with a POW grip and decent enough bluing. Scant amount of engraving, and it appeared to have a strange lever on the bottom. Not too interested, I didn't bother to look much further at it, but I think they wanted around $2700. I also saw a lovely German made drilling in 12x12x9.3x74r. Very nicely engraved with the pre-war type long sweeping side clips. The maker, whose name I recognized, now eludes me, but I believe it begins with a D. Again, a lovely drilling, but once again, the price seemed far too high being well over the $3000 mark and of course lacking the claw mounted scope.
All in all, an entertaining day with a few sights that finally peaked my interest for once, but sadly no new guns came home with me and no old guns left me.
