my first double was a Stevens 12 ga [ model 335] circa 1912. it was a gift to me from an amazing old man, who was a dear friend of my father and I. he was born in norway, but grew up in the upper peninsula of michigan, basically in logging camps run by his father and family. his mother schooled him and at age 16 he went to Michigan State, getting his bachelors degree in 3 years. he was an enormous athletic man, 6 feet 6" and over 300 lbs when he finished college , with a 32" waist !! he returned to the UP and eventually ran the logging operation himself. he lived to be 99 and died in the early 1970s, [ when i was away at medical school ]
i spent numerous afternoons and evenings with him, from high school onward [ he was a widower, and they never were able to have children] listening to stories of all types, but especially hunting and fishing tales. he said that Stevens had taken two bears, more than 18 deer, and countless ducks and geese. if the shotgun was involved in the story he was relating, he would conclude the tale by breaking open the double and handing it to me and saying 'and this is the gun i i used.' once, after i handed it back to him , he handed it back to me again, saying ' I dont need this any more and i would like you to have it !' for a moment i was unable to speak...but then i said ' yes, i will take it... but not now, not today, you keep it for now, but i am honored to have it and i will use it. ' about a year and a half later he passed away, and i did get the gun. and i did use it and took ducks and geese with it, later when i was in the army and stationed in Texas.
i also have his traditional hand woven sweater made in the 1930s by his aunt who was a Sammi [ Laplander ] in Norway. i have also worn it frequently and even when hunting.
i still relish the stories he told me, and his friendship ...... and his memory is fresh and precious to me even now.
