Stan:
You'd like my 1901 LC Smith hammer, but I get it.
Very old hammerguns (built before choke existed) are a version of a "time-machine". Everything about them is an aesthetic and then a nostalgic consideration. The fact that they are still deadly weapons only makes it ever-so-much better. I also happen to know that you have some very handsome doubleguns as well, so the aesthetic and nostalgic considerations aren't exactly wasted on you.
You clearly "get it" as well.
I've got some hammer guns, Lloyd. All have choke except for the Manton 16 ga. percussion double which is Cyl./Cyl. I have used it for quail, and doves when I only take close shots. It's not that I see no use for Cyl. "choke", it's that I have no use for it in a 12 ga. gun. I have actually considered talking to Dean Harris soon about jug choking the Manton for me, so that I'd get more usefulness out of it. Recently read V M Starr and his views on jug choking. First thing to do concerning that would be to get those barrels' wall thicknesses measured, to see if I could get enough choke out of them to make the project worthwhile. Starr used to be able to get his m/ls to shoot up to 85% patterns, not that I'd want that much.
