doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Colorado Vintagers Polar Bear Shoot today

This may be mildly off-topic but it involves classic double shotguns and the mostly old guys who seem to be interested in them. We gathered today to honor a now-deceased founding member (& his wife) who helped get this organization off of the ground (Kemp Pace and his lovely bride, also deceased [& who's name I've sadly forgotten]). Last year at this time we were freezing our tails off, piling-on extra clothing and drinking hot coffee between rounds on the course, this year was actually quite balmy and frankly too-warm (I was down to a long sleeved t-shirt by mid-shoot & looking for cold water. Sunscreen would have been advised today as it was 65 and clear). As is usual, there was a nice mix of doubles (& single barrel trap) guns to fondle and discuss (American and British mostly), along with a nice mix of hammerless and hammered examples. Everybody in attendance was a delightful mix of warm and polite folks who like to discuss double guns and their proper use (for hunting and targets).

I've been associated with this crowd off-and-on (mostly due to work) for something like 25-years now and the whole (& quite eclectic) collection of humanity here seems to be completely wholesome and genuinely-interested in polite conversations, as well as in the exchange of interesting gun-related history. Politics is strictly verboten and as-usual, a good time was seemingly had by all today. We gathered at a local restaurant after the shoot to partake in a nice lunch and a few adult beverages. The fun conversations flowed even further from there.

In just the last year, this gathering has been diminished somewhat by the loss of several minor (& major) luminaries who have sadly departed for Valhalla. Accordingly, I was approached by the Master of Ceremonies (after said lunch today) to broadcast this plea here for those who may be interested in such things, and who might consider joining us for the various doublegun activities we plan and then so adroitly execute throughout the year.

If you're an old doublegun guy or even a hunter, this a fun bunch. Anyone who may be interested here can contact me by instant message and I'll try to answer any questions you might have and then put you in touch with the local powers-that-be. Obviously, anyone is welcome to participate but living too-far away from Denver will tend to complicate the process. However, to my knowledge, in the past we've had members from Wyoming and even New Mexico who participated regularly so... don't let that stop you.

Before contemplating too-much more on your own trip to Valhalla, live a little and come shoot some fine old double guns with us, eh?

I need to start shooting with those guys again, I talked to Bruce K about it and plan on trying to make at least a few shoots this year. A great group of guys that I shot with for years, then life got busy.

By the way, they are the Rocky Mountain Vintagers, they were the Colorado Vintagers....no need to go in to that story though.

Steve is right, it was associated with a national organization in the beginning but is now independent.

I am guilty of being a bit detatched from them due to work and then long-term hunting obligations (which still complicate things) but now that I'm officially retired I feel the need to do a bit more to make sure they survive.

I have received and invitation to attend for the last two or three years and have planned to do so for their shoot up near Raton. But, of course, something has prevented me every time, either my shoulder replacement surgeries, or my back surgeries, or last time a death in the family that took me away to North Carolina. This year. 2026. I hope it will be MY year to attend. That is, IF I get notified/invited again!!! Hopefully so.

Lloyd, if I wasn’t several thousand miles away, I’d be there ! 🤣

Did I hear you say “officially”?

Best news (so far) of the new year. But, July is coming. My towel gets rolled up and thrown in on the 3rd.

The shoot sounds like fun, but, it is a bit off the bus line for me.

Best,
Ted

Thanks guys.