Keith: Thank you.

Flinch: and thank you as well and moreover...this story isn't over just yet.

The initial shock of it all is receding finally and I've gleaned maybe a few insights by now:

- I realized this morning (in the shower of course) that this was the first time I'd ever formally shot this gun on targets. I'd shot it once or twice after a deep cleaning, inspection and a re-checkering but it's lesser brother (a Quality 1 gun) always got the nod instead (and for no good reason other than for familiarity...I've owned it longer). Going from almost zero to full use maybe wasn't such a smart thing here? A proper shakedown is always prudent first.

- Another insight, I used to have mild anxiety attacks about shooting damascus guns back in the 90s and early 2000s when what I obviously should have been just as concerned about was maybe the wood in those guns? I'm really quite fortunate this hasn't happened to me before this.

- I've had almost-unprecedented good fortune with a number of these old guns over the years and if this one doesn't turn out so-well....no big deal. Even twenty years ago this would have been far-more problematic for me (and for all the usual reasons) but now it's just a bad experience that could eventually still turn out alright.

- Over the years I've been very fortunate to have made some wonderful contacts in this incestuous little doublegun world. Those now mostly friends and associates have made the trip a pretty great one for over four decades. I'm not saying this needed to happen (God forbid!) but I am perhaps more greatful now for those folks because of it.

To drone on a bit further...I've wrecked several nice cars, broken a fine bamboo flyrod (or two) and now I've even managed to destroy a classic American double. All of these things are just consumable items when you think about it, so while the loss stings (alot) it really could be so-much worse. Flinch is so-right here, you must use these things to really enjoy them and sometimes that use can have unintended consequences, and FWIW...I got to fully experience all of it (first-hand, not in cyber space like todays kiddies mostly get it).

It's been quite an adventure so far.

Last edited by Lloyd3; 08/02/26 12:29 AM.